Traces of Old Turkish Beliefs in Khorasan Turks and Their Current Manifestations / Horasan Türklerinde Eski Türk İnançlarının İzleri ve Günümüzdeki Görünümleri

Abstract

Turks have been influenced by the religions and cultures they have encountered in the geographies they have lived in throughout history. In this way, some effects and traces of traditional Turkish beliefs have continued to live in the culture of some Turkish groups. In the field research we conducted in the Khorasan regions, we came to this understanding that the beliefs and practices of the people of this region are not different from those in other Turkish geographies. In this study, the continuing effects and traces of traditional Turkish beliefs on Iranian Turks in Khorasan who have adopted the understanding of Islamic religion are emphasized. Furthermore, besides books and articles on the subject, the Turkish beliefs and rituals in the province of Bojnourd, a city in Northern Province of Khorasan in İran, have been examined. In this context, beliefs and rituals from birth to death are discussed, along with the beliefs and practices of the Turks living in Khorasan in general, during and after birth, marriage and death. Also, the beliefs and practices related to nature are explained: for example, the earth-water cult, the cult of mountain, water, tree, fire and hearth. At the end, the New Year (Nowruz) and some religious celebrations are pointed out.

Keywords

• i̇ran-horasan türkleri
• inanışlar
• traditional turkish believes