Pir Shalyar Festival in Hawraman

Variety 12:39 PM - 2022-02-06

The first day of Pir Shalyar Festival took place in Hawraman, east of Kurdistan.

Pir Shalyar is an old traditional festival in Kurdistan that is held on the 40th day of winter. The festival is three stages, each in a day of three following weeks.

According to historical sources, Pir translates as (old/wise), and Shalyar is the name of a region in Hawraman. Pir Shalyar means the wise of Shalyar, who is believed to have cured a Bukharan princess and married her.

In other sources, Pir Shalyar was believed to be a Yarsani leader.

The celebration:

On the first week of the celebration, children take the responsibility to inform people about the beginning of the festival, and while they do that they would also distribute walnuts to everyone.

In the second week, sheep and cows are sacrificed after Wednesday sunrise, and the people would play Daf and sing hymns.

On the Friday of the third week, which is on the month of Rebandan (the second month of winter in the Kurdish calendar), people would go to the tomb of Pir Shalyar and distribute bread among the participants.

PUKmedia