PHOTO/ The holy place we have never heard of, a 7,000-year-old faith is protected

2023-08-04 09:47:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

PHOTO/ The holy place we have never heard of, a 7,000-year-old faith is

Lalish is a small mountain village in Kurdistan with a population of only 25 people. For Yazidis, Lalish is like Mecca for Muslims, writes the BBC.

The village of Lalish, located 125 km north-east of Erbil (the capital of Kurdistan, an autonomous region of northern Iraq), is the holiest site of Yazidism, an ancient religion with around 700,000 followers worldwide.

"Lalish is as sacred to Yazidis as Mecca is to Muslims or Jerusalem to followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism," said Luqman Mahmood, director of visitor relations.

The 4,000-year-old site (which is also open to non-believers) consists of a number of pulpits with distinctive conical tops, the most revered of which contains the tomb of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, considered the founder of the faith.

The exact origins of Yazidism are a matter of dispute, but it is thought to date back more than 7,000 years and, over time, has come to incorporate elements of other faiths, including Zoroastrianism, Sufi mysticism, Christianity and Judaism.

The main beliefs of Yazidism are that there is one God ("Kuda" in Kurdish) who created mankind, while all other living beings are the work of seven angels led by the ruling Peacock Angel called Malak Taus.

"Another important aspect of the Yazidi faith is the belief in our oneness with the natural world, which is rooted in ancient nature worship," says Mahmood.

"The black snake at the temple entrance symbolizes our respect for Mother Nature; we would never kill a snake, even if it was poisonous," he further says.

Like Muslims traveling to Mecca, Yazidis are obliged to make the pilgrimage to Lalish at least once in their lifetime. While those who live in Kurdistan or Iraq should visit at least once a year.

Pilgrims and visitors must enter the complex in modest clothing and walk barefoot out of respect for the sanctity of the site.

PHOTO/ The holy place we have never heard of, a 7,000-year-old faith is

Residents in Lalish:

Lalish has only 25 permanent residents, who are: a priest; various monks; a nun; and the so-called house servants. The latter are responsible for cleaning, maintenance, care for the forests.

It is said that every Yazidi must own land from Lalish and keep it with him as a talisman. Soil is also a key part of Yazidi burial rites. It is mixed with holy spring water and small clay balls are placed in the mouth, ears and over the eyes after death. Coins are also placed in the coffin (an ancient Babylonian tradition) so that the deceased will have money to spend in heaven.

PHOTO/ The holy place we have never heard of, a 7,000-year-old faith is