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DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - Nearly 60 Yazidi men and women toured the holy Temple of Lalish om Shingal (Sinjar) on Tuesday, wearing and showing off traditional Yazidi clothing from 25 different regions, in a unique cultural display.
The clothes were purified using water from the temple’s holy Kaniya Spi (White Spring), prior to being worn.
Before heading to the holy shrine, the men and women taking part in the event visited the Salat Bridge, situated a few hundred meters outside the holy temple, and believed to cleanse one’s sins in Yazidism.
"These garments I am wearing originate from the Georgian Yazidis. According to our faith, the Yazidis are associated with seven angels, where each angel is a fairy, and each fairy is symbolized by a specific color. The significance of the colors on my attire is that they are crafted for these revered fairies," Layla Slough, a participant, told Rudaw’s Ayub Nasri.
Hanan Khalaf, another participant from Shingal wore traditional attire from Afrin, Syria.
"My clothes originate from the Syrian Yazidis of Afrin, and we take great pride in wearing them," he said.
The original clothing of Yazidis from Russia, Armenia, Georgia, eastern Turkey, northeast Syria, and the Kurdistan Region was featured in the display.
"Our primary goal is for all visitors who visit this sacred place to wear appropriate clothing to respect and protect this place. Another goal is to hold on to and preserve our Yazidi culture," said Pir Onar Pir Khairi.
Traditional Yazidi clothing of some regions was abandoned for nearly a hundred years but has recently re-emerged through some photography activities and designers.
The Islamic State (ISIS) overran the Yazidi heartland of Shingal in August 2014 and committed atrocities including genocide against the group. More than 6,000 Yazidis were abducted and around 2,700 remain missing.
Shingal was liberated in 2015 and ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Iraq two years later.
The clothes were purified using water from the temple’s holy Kaniya Spi (White Spring), prior to being worn.
Before heading to the holy shrine, the men and women taking part in the event visited the Salat Bridge, situated a few hundred meters outside the holy temple, and believed to cleanse one’s sins in Yazidism.
"These garments I am wearing originate from the Georgian Yazidis. According to our faith, the Yazidis are associated with seven angels, where each angel is a fairy, and each fairy is symbolized by a specific color. The significance of the colors on my attire is that they are crafted for these revered fairies," Layla Slough, a participant, told Rudaw’s Ayub Nasri.
Hanan Khalaf, another participant from Shingal wore traditional attire from Afrin, Syria.
"My clothes originate from the Syrian Yazidis of Afrin, and we take great pride in wearing them," he said.
The original clothing of Yazidis from Russia, Armenia, Georgia, eastern Turkey, northeast Syria, and the Kurdistan Region was featured in the display.
"Our primary goal is for all visitors who visit this sacred place to wear appropriate clothing to respect and protect this place. Another goal is to hold on to and preserve our Yazidi culture," said Pir Onar Pir Khairi.
Traditional Yazidi clothing of some regions was abandoned for nearly a hundred years but has recently re-emerged through some photography activities and designers.
The Islamic State (ISIS) overran the Yazidi heartland of Shingal in August 2014 and committed atrocities including genocide against the group. More than 6,000 Yazidis were abducted and around 2,700 remain missing.
Shingal was liberated in 2015 and ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Iraq two years later.
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