Lower thirds:

00:05 Report by / Julia Hahn
01:00 Kahraman Yildiz / Mahya master
01:39 Julia Hahn / DW Correspondent
02:17 Kahraman Yildiz / Mahya master

Script:

00:03
As darkness falls over Istanbul during Ramadan, 
letters of light appear between mosque minarets.
Known as "mahya" – these messages of faith and unity have lit up
the city's skyline for centuries.

00:19-00:26 
+++ VOX Woman (Turkish) +++
"These are beautiful religious messages. We love them. They are such an important part of Ramadan for us."

00:26
+++ VOX Man, tourist from China (English) +++
"These lights are really wonderful at night because when you look at them it just makes you calm down and the colors are really amazing."

00:37
But what looks effortless from afar – is hard work. 

00:43
70-year-old Kahraman Yıldız is one of the last mahya masters in Turkey.
Even in retirement, he still climbs
the soaring minarets of the Sultanahmet Mosque,
carefully hanging every single light himself.

00:59-01:17
+++ SOT Kahraman Yildiz, Mahya master (Turkish) +++
"You cannot make any mistakes. The letters must be placed precisely, the symmetry must be perfect. It takes some math, some geometry – and strength and skill. Sometimes there's storm, rain, even snow – but we give our best in any weather."

01:19
The art of mahya is thought to be at least 400 years old.

It dates back to Ottoman times,
when letters were formed with oil lamps.

Today, Yıldız and his small team use electric bulbs –
but the principle remains the same: light becomes language.

01:38
+++ PTC Julia Hahn, DW Correspondent (English) +++
"From up here, you can really see the precision it takes to hang every single letter between the minarets – at dizzying heights. But this centuries-old craft is at risk of fading from Istanbul's skyline."

01:52
Across Turkey, only nine mosques still showcase the traditional mahya craft – 
all thanks to Yıldız, who has devoted more than 50 years to it.

For him, mahya is more than a job – it's a legacy.
But he cannot find apprentices willing to carry it on.
And more and more mosques now use LED panels to display digital messages.

02:15-02:32
+++ SOT Kahraman Yildiz, Mahya master (Turkish) +++
"The art of Mahya is dying out. This craft could disappear. I just hope someone comes along to help keep it alive. [...] The work is difficult – but it's also rewarding. You climb where most people can't – and write messages in the sky." 

02:34
Messages like: "Ramadan is about being together."

It's a piece of craftsmanship in a digital world and 

a tradition Yıldız would love to pass on.

Light by light.

END