Sahneh (Sehne): A Kurdish Town of the Tanbur
- Jamal Latif
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
Sahneh (Kurdish: Sehne) is a Kurdish town in Kermanshah Province in western Iran, set on the old road between Kermanshah and Hamadan near the great rock of Bisotun. Though modest in size, Sahneh holds a special place in Kurdish culture: it is one of the heartlands of the tanbur, the sacred long-necked lute, and of the Yarsan faith whose followers cherish it. Few towns of its size carry so much music and devotion.
In the Kurdish region of Kermanshah, Sahneh stands out as a place where faith and melody are woven together. This profile looks at the town, its people, and its sacred music.
Key Takeaways
• Sahneh (Kurdish: Sehne) is a Kurdish town in Kermanshah Province, western Iran.
• It lies on the road between Kermanshah and Hamadan, near the rock of Bisotun.
• Sahneh is a major centre of the tanbur, the sacred long-necked lute.
• It is closely associated with the Yarsan (Ahl-e Haqq) faith.
• The town is part of the southern Kurdish cultural world of Kermanshah.
Quick Facts
Name (Kurdish): Sehne
Name (Persian): Sahneh
Country / Region: Iran (Rojhelat)
Province: Kermanshah
On the Road: Kermanshah to Hamadan
Famous For: The sacred tanbur lute
Faith: A heartland of the Yarsan
Near: The rock of Bisotun
Contents
Where Is Sahneh?
Sahneh lies east of the city of Kermanshah, on the historic highway that runs toward Hamadan, in the Kurdish country of western Iran that also takes in towns such as Sarpol-e Zahab and Javanrud. The road past Sahneh runs close to Bisotun, the towering rock famous for its ancient inscriptions, placing the town along one of the great routes of Iranian and Kurdish history.
The Town of the Tanbur
Sahneh is celebrated above all as a home of the tanbur, the long-necked sacred lute that lies at the heart of Kurdish devotional music in this region. In Sahneh the making and playing of the tanbur is a living tradition, passed down through families and revered as far more than entertainment: its melodies are treated as sacred, played in worship and gathering, and bound up with centuries of spiritual practice. The town’s name is known to lovers of Kurdish music across the world for this reason.
The Yarsan Faith
The tanbur of Sahneh is inseparable from the Yarsan, also called the Ahl-e Haqq, a distinct religious tradition with deep roots among the Kurds of the Kermanshah region. For the Yarsan, the sacred lute and its music are central to devotion, and towns like Sahneh have long been important centres of the faith. Like other minority traditions of the Kurdish world, the Yarsan have preserved their beliefs and practices quietly across generations, and Sahneh remains one of the places where that heritage is most strongly felt.
A Kurdish Town of Kermanshah
Sahneh belongs to the southern Kurdish cultural world of Kermanshah Province, where Kurdish is spoken in its own regional forms and where local music, dress, and custom carry a distinct character. Set among farms and orchards on the road through the mountains, it is a town of agriculture and tradition, sharing in the wider life of Kurdish Kermanshah while keeping its own special reputation for music and faith.
Sahneh Today
Today Sahneh continues as a Kurdish town of Kermanshah Province, its tanbur tradition still alive and still drawing the attention of musicians and scholars. The town carries its sacred music and its quiet devotion into the present — a small place on a great road that has given the Kurdish world one of its most cherished sounds.
Timeline
ancient routes — Sahneh lies on the historic road past Bisotun toward Hamadan.
over the centuries — The town becomes a heartland of the tanbur and the Yarsan faith.
traditionally — Tanbur-making and sacred music are passed down through Sahneh’s families.
modern times — Sahneh grows as a Kurdish town of Kermanshah Province.
today — It remains famous across the Kurdish world for its sacred music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sahneh’s Kurdish name?
In Kurdish the town is known as Sehne.
Why is Sahneh famous?
Sahneh is famous as a heartland of the tanbur, the sacred long-necked lute, and of the Yarsan faith, making it a renowned centre of Kurdish devotional music.
What is the tanbur?
The tanbur is a long-necked sacred lute central to Kurdish devotional music in the Kermanshah region, especially among the Yarsan, for whom its melodies are treated as sacred.
Where is Sahneh?
Sahneh is in Kermanshah Province in western Iran, east of the city of Kermanshah on the road toward Hamadan, near the rock of Bisotun.
Related People, Places, and Topics
The tanbur · the Yarsan (Ahl-e Haqq) · Kurdish sacred music · Kermanshah · Sarpol-e Zahab · Javanrud.
References and Further Reading
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