Are you ready to witness a tradition famous for its woven carpets and kilims in the Döşemealtı district of Antalya, a tourist paradise? The lands where wheat fields flourish in the winter season undergo a colorful transformation with the arrival of summer. Thousands of acres of land are covered with colorful wool carpets and left to wait under the sun for days.
Carpets Purified from Bacteria and Revitalized in Color
Bacteria and insect larvae that form due to humidity in carpets kept in storage during the winter months are destroyed by the sun coming in the summer. During this process, the carpets regain their original colors and come to life. The sunbathing process begins in the early morning hours and continues until sunset. Employees turn the carpets at regular intervals to ensure that they are sunbathing evenly.
Traditional Carpet Production by Women’s Hands
The carpet fields located in Killik Neighborhood of Döşemealtı district of Antalya host hundreds of carpets every year. The carpets are grouped according to their colors and patterns and laid on the fields. Women who have acquired a profession by weaving carpets and rugs in the district also work hard in the carpet fields. Aiming to continue this tradition, women are trying to teach this valuable profession to the younger generations.
“We Grew Up in the Carpet”
Women who grew up with carpet looms worked all day long to dry the carpets in the sun. They work meticulously at every stage, protecting the carpets on rainy days. Drying the carpets in the sun gives them happiness and they are proud to keep this tradition alive.
“Our Carpets Count 6 Thousand”
The official responsible for the carpet field states that thousands of carpets are sunbathed in the 80-acre area. He emphasizes that the carpets are carefully sunbathed to achieve their pastel colors. He states that they aim to pass on this tradition to the youth in the field where women work with great effort. The carpet fields continue the carpet sunbathing process until September and then they are prepared for agriculture again.
