Procession to the Okmeydan for the circumcision ceremonies of the sons of Sultan Ahmet III.From Surname-i Vehbi, c.1720. Topkapi Sarayi Müzesi Kütüphanesi, A.3593

Public ceremony was very much part of life in the capital. Soldiers, officials and, above all, the royal house, often moved about in formal entourages surrounded by elaborate pomp. Periodically, colorful parades displayed the costumes and skills of various professional groups to the ruling elite and the crowds of spectators. These festive occasions provided entertainment and, in addition, cultivated a bond between the royal family and the populace.