Yazidi Pilgrimage in Lalish

We stopped at a market along the way.  The watermelon here is delicious!

Two hours on the bus and we were at Lalish, a sacred place for the Yazidi in a small mountain valley. Yazidis are a religious group who represent an ancient religion.  The religion blends elements of ancient nature-worship and influences from Christianity, Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Islam and Judaism. The Yazidi believe in God as creator of the world, which he placed under the care of seven holy beings with the Peacock Angel as the chief. Yazidis currently live in Iraq, Syria and Turkey and make at least one pilgrimage to Lalişh during their lifetime. During the celebration, Yazidi bathe in the river, wash figures of Tawûsê Melek and light hundreds of lamps in the tombs of Şêx Adî and other saints. Some also believe Noah’s Ark came to rest here.
 

Upon entering Lalish, we were required to remove our shoes, a pilgrimage custom.  We walked around all day without shoes!

 





























The focal point of Lalish is the Sanctuary, a temple topped by two large pyramids. 

The entrance is guarded by a stone relief of a black snake slithering into a hole in the wall, which some believe symbolizes a snake that used his body to plug a leak in Noah’s Ark. You can see the bottom of the snake to the right of the entrance.

looking back toward the courtyard after entering the sanctuary.

 

These were found throughout the sanctuary.

 

The interior of the temple contains several tombs. The tombs and walls are wrapped in colorful silks and visitors tie and untie knots to make a wish.

 

 

Pilgrims circle a tomb three times counterclockwise (not sure if there is any significance to the direction), untie three scarves making wishes and tie three new knots.

That's me!

A hanging oil lamp

 After walking through the Sanctuary through many small rooms, we came upon a very small room with a tomb in the back where visitors respectfully walked up two steps to the tomb, kissed the tomb and retraced their two steps.

 A Yazidi man explained that some pilgrims bring a silk scarf from a friend, stand in a certain place in the sanctuary, close their eyes and throw the silk scarf toward the taller tomb three times.  If it lands on the tomb and stays there, the chances of getting married soon are very good for the person throwing the scarf.

Beautiful light

Love the patina on this door

Ceiling in one of the sanctuary rooms

Children ran up to us all day!

climbing up the terraces

Kurdish security

Looking down toward the sanctuary

near a courtyard

Not sure what this is called ~ delicious!

Our picnic spot overlooking one of the courtyards.

Small Kurdish boy dressed in traditional clothing.

 Look at that pose!

... smoking.

Grandmother, Father & bassinet with baby.

Giggling girls.

cotton candy

These girls asked me to take their photo.

A lovely day!