ERBIL, Kurdistan Region —The rehabilitation of the Yezidi sacred temple of Lalish began on Sunday and is being funded by locals.
"The reconstruction of Lalish has started and it is in its initial stage,” said Khairi Bozani, head of the Yezidis affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry for Religious Affairs.
He added repairs won’t include the temple’s domes, "but just some certain places that need to be repaired."
Yezidis usually gather their holiest temple of Lalish in the Kurdistan Region with their spiritual leaders. The most sacred Yezidi rituals and community events occur there. It is expected in the faith for followers to make one pilgrimage in their life to Lalish.
The exact age of Lalish is unknown. Historians and archaeologists believe the site could be at least 4,000 years old and a part of Sumer and other ancient civilizations.
Most of the structural damage is due to its age and lack of maintenance.
"The reconstruction of Lalish has started and it is in its initial stage,” said Khairi Bozani, head of the Yezidis affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry for Religious Affairs.
He added repairs won’t include the temple’s domes, "but just some certain places that need to be repaired."
The repair costs will be covered by locals and "will take at least a month to finish work on it."
Yezidis usually gather their holiest temple of Lalish in the Kurdistan Region with their spiritual leaders. The most sacred Yezidi rituals and community events occur there. It is expected in the faith for followers to make one pilgrimage in their life to Lalish.
The exact age of Lalish is unknown. Historians and archaeologists believe the site could be at least 4,000 years old and a part of Sumer and other ancient civilizations.
Because of its northern proximity in Sheikhan district in Duhok, the holy site was not ravaged by ISIS in their genocide against the Yezidis that began in 2014.
Most of the structural damage is due to its age and lack of maintenance.
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