The Kaka'i: The People of Truth in Iraq
The Kaka'i of Iraq: the Iraqi-Kurdish branch of the Yarsani faith, the People of Truth, their beliefs of brotherhood, their secrecy born of persecution, and their endurance.
Read article →Kurdish History Journal
Kurdish Art and Culture
Articles filed under Kurdish Art and Culture.
Bahram: The Loyal Paladin and the Lost Whip
Bahram in the Shahnameh: the loyal paladin son of Gudarz, who tried to save the prince Forud and met a tragic death returning for his lost whip on the battlefield.
Read article →Goshtasp: The King Who Embraced the Prophet
Goshtasp in the Shahnameh: the king who became the royal patron of the prophet Zoroaster, father of Esfandiyar, whose broken promises doomed his own son.
Read article →Lohrasp: The King Before the Prophet
Lohrasp in the Shahnameh: the king chosen by Kay Khosrow as his heir, father of Goshtasp, builder of the sacred fire, who died defending Balkh against the Turanians.
Read article →Fariburz: The Prince Who Sought the Throne
Fariburz in the Shahnameh: the prince son of Kay Kavus and rival claimant to Kay Khosrow, who failed the test of the demon-fortress and became a loyal champion of Iran.
Read article →The Feqir: The Ascetics of the Yazidi Faith
The Feqir of the Yazidi faith: the devoted ascetics who wear the sacred black khirqa in imitation of Sheikh Adi, keep the great fasts, and serve at the holy valley of Lalish.
Read article →Dunaduni: Reincarnation and Divine Manifestation in the Yarsani Faith
Dunaduni and mazhariyat in the Yarsani faith: the transmigration of the soul through a thousand and one lives, and the successive manifestations of the Divine Essence in human form.
Read article →Gostaham: The Sharpshooter of the Shahnameh
Gostaham in the Shahnameh: the sharpshooter paladin son of King Nowzar and brother of Tus, hero of the Twelve Combats and loyal champion of the House of Nowzar.
Read article →Kurdish Creation Myths: The Origin Legends of the Kurds
Kurdish creation myths and origin legends: Melik Kurdim and Mount Judi, the flight to the mountains, and the ancient stories the Kurds have told of how their people began.
Read article →The Tawusgeran: The Parading of the Peacock
The Tawusgeran, the Yazidi Parading of the Peacock: the sacred sinjaq images of Tawuse Melek carried by the Qewwals in procession through the Yazidi villages.
Read article →Faramarz: The Son of Rostam
Faramarz in the Shahnameh: the heroic son of Rostam, conqueror of India, avenger of his father's death, and the last great heir of the House of Nariman.
Read article →Tus: The Proud Paladin of the Shahnameh
Tus in the Shahnameh: the proud paladin son of King Nowzar, bearer of the Kaviani banner and commander of Iran, whose rashness brought the tragedy of Forud.
Read article →Cejna Ezi: The Yazidi Feast of Ezi
The Cejna Ezi, the Yazidi Feast of Ezi: the great winter-solstice festival of light honoring Sultan Ezi, preceded by the obligatory three-day Rojiyen Ezi fast.
Read article →The Jam: The Sacred Ceremony of the Yarsani Faith
The jam, the central ceremony of the Yarsani faith: the communal gathering in the jamkhana with the sacred tanbur, the kalam hymns, and the shared offering of the People of Truth.
Read article →Cejna Cemaiye: The Yazidi Feast of the Assembly
The Cejna Cemaiye, the Yazidi Feast of the Assembly: the great seven-day autumn pilgrimage to Lalish in honor of Sheikh Adi, the most important festival of the Yazidi year.
Read article →The Derafsh-e Kaveyani: The Banner of Kawa
The Derafsh-e Kaveyani, the legendary banner of Kawa the blacksmith: born from his leather apron in the revolt against Zahhak and made the jewelled royal standard of ancient Iran.
Read article →Ker u Kulik: The Epic of the Twin Brothers
Ker u Kulik, one of the seven great Kurdish epics: the heroic destan of the twin brothers, carried through the generations by the dengbej tradition of Kurdistan.
Read article →Giv: The Loyal Hero of the Shahnameh
Giv in the Shahnameh: the loyal champion of the House of Karen, son of Gudarz and father of Bizhan, who sought the prince Kay Khosrow in Turan for seven years.
Read article →Gudarz: The Patriarch of the Paladins
Gudarz in the Shahnameh: the great patriarch-paladin of the House of Karen, father of many warrior-sons, wise commander of Iran, and the slayer of Piran at the Twelve Rooks.
Read article →Qaren: The Warrior Son of Kawa
Qaren in the Shahnameh: the warrior son of Kawa the blacksmith, chief general of Manuchehr and Nowzar, and founder of the great House of Karen.
Read article →Nowzar: The Ill-Fated King of the Shahnameh
Nowzar in the Shahnameh: the flawed Pishdadian king, son of Manuchehr, whose unjust reign and defeat and death at the hands of Afrasiab brought disaster upon Iran.
Read article →Yazidism: The Ancient Faith of the Yazidis
Yazidism explained: the ancient monotheistic faith of the Kurdish Yazidis, with one God Xwede, the Seven Holy Beings led by Tawuse Melek, the saint Sheikh Adi and the sanctuary of Lalish.
Read article →Yarsanism: The Faith of the People of Truth
Yarsanism, the Ahl-e Haqq or People of Truth: the Kurdish faith founded by Sultan Sahak, with its seven theophanies, the sacred tanbur, the jam ceremony and the Kalam-e Saranjam.
Read article →Garsivaz: The Schemer of the Shahnameh
Garsivaz in the Shahnameh: the envious brother of Afrasiab whose slanders poisoned the king against the pure prince Siyavash and brought about his tragic murder.
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