650 Pilgrims from Northern Cyprus Visit Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

In celebration of Kurban Bayram, a group of 650 pilgrims from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) visited the Hala Sultan Tekke complex in Larnaca. The Cyprus Foundations Administration and the Religious Affairs Department organized the trip to this sacred Muslim site.

The pilgrims crossed the border via the Metehan checkpoint by bus, adhering to all necessary safety measures, and arrived at the Hala Sultan lodge in Larnaca.

During the pilgrimage, the worshippers visited the shrine and performed prayers before returning home.

Notably, in April of this year, around 450 people visited the complex in Larnaca to celebrate the Uraza Bayram holiday. This marked the first pilgrimage to the shrine, located in the Republic of Cyprus, since 2019, as it had been inaccessible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hala Sultan Tekke is one of the most sacred places for Muslims worldwide. Some scholars regard it as the fourth most important site in Islam, following Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

The shrine is the burial place of Umm Haram, known in Turkish tradition as Hala Sultan, the wife of Ubadah bin al-Samit, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.

The Kurban Bayram celebration began in the TRNC on Sunday and lasted for four days.