Fuad Huseynzade / 01 March 2022
The ethnic landscape of Azerbaijan is similar to our ancient carpets. They are as ancient, unique and colorful. Regardless of the number, each nation is an irreplaceable and unique pattern of this elegant “carpet”. Their historical unity in this area has, over time, created a unique and perfect harmony, a masterpiece of history – the ideology of Azerbaijanism.
Along with Azeri Turks, mountain Jews, Tats, Talyshs, Kurds, Malakans, Ingiloys, Sahurs, Avars, Lezgins, Khinaligs, Budugs, Kyrgyzs and other minorities and ethnic groups have historically lived as one family in the territory of Azerbaijan, which is distinguished by its ethnographic diversity. These people and ethnic groups have been able to preserve their unique culture without any pressure or threat during all the periods they lived in the territory of Azerbaijan. Their culture, traditions and religion have been given a high level of attention and care, and the state has created ample opportunities for the comprehensive development of these values.
The new cultural policy implemented in Azerbaijan during the independence period has created a substantial stimulus for the protection of multicultural and tolerant values and the promotion of human coexistence.
Multiculturalism and tolerance have become a daily way of life for every citizen of Azerbaijan, regardless of national identity, language or religion. In addition to being a state policy, multiculturalism manifests itself in modern Azerbaijani society as an unchanging way of life. The Azerbaijani government continues its consistent policy to protect the rights of national minorities. National minorities fully exercise their right to establish their own national centers, associations and other institutions. At present, there are dozens of national cultural centers in Azerbaijan.
One of the most famous places inhabited by minorities is the area of Guba called the Red Settlement. Jews live in a compact settlement in the Red Settlement. Jews have preserved their traditions and performed religious rites since they moved to Azerbaijan.
Jews have always been friends with the local community since they settled in Azerbaijan. There are several synagogues of mountain Jews in Baku, Oguz and Guba.
A college called “Shmirat a-Shem” has been opened for Jewish children in the Red Settlement. Israeli teachers work here to teach Jewish customs and traditions. In October 2010, a 200-year-old synagogue belonging to the Mountain Jews religious community in the settlement was opened after major repairs.
One of the most popular Jewish holidays is Rosh Hashanah. This holiday means the arrival of the new year for the mountain Jews. During the three-day holiday, tables are set in every Jewish family and various dishes are prepared. After 3 days, religious rites are performed in the synagogue, which is a place of worship for Jews, for 7 days. Traditionally, this year the holiday is celebrated in the Red Settlement with high spirits.
After 3 days, everyone goes to the synagogue every day, worships God and asks for forgiveness of sins. People also pray a lot in the New Year to find spiritual purity in the synagogue and to have a successful New Year.
The number of Jews who died heroically for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not small. Like every patriotic citizen, they fought for the right of our country. An example is the National Hero Albert Agarunov. His heroism instills a patriotic spirit in every Azerbaijani citizen. He left an indelible mark on the hearts of the Azerbaijani people with his heroism.
As the atmosphere of tolerance in Azerbaijan is always at the highest level, many international events and scientific conferences dedicated to multiculturalism, relations between nations and religions, dialogue are held here.
Like other people of Azerbaijan, the cultural and historical heritage of the Lezgins is preserved as well. Lezgins do not see any discrimination in Azerbaijan either. On the contrary, there is a spiritual and historical closeness between the peoples living here and them. Azerbaijani-Lezgin relations have always been stable. There are many mixed marriages. Most Lezgins living in Azerbaijan speak Azeri very well. The area where Lezgins live compactly is Gusar.
Lezgins also have a rich cultural and historical heritage. To date, they have been preserved and developed. Lezgins call the spring holiday “Yaran Suvar”. “Yar” is a month in the ancient Lezgin agricultural calendar and lasts from March 21 to April 4. Since spring coincides with the beginning of spring field work, the most interesting ceremonies are held in the gardens and fields.
One of the ancient Lezgin traditions, the most important of which is “mel”, which means voluntary subsistence, is celebrated on the eve of the spring holiday. Houses are cleaned, blankets are laid in the sun, carpets are thrown, walls are whitewashed, gardens and fields are cleared of weeds.
It was also customary to hold a folk ceremony called “Vatsrakar”. Its content consisted of appeals to the Moon and the Sun, and their praise. Girls and boys passed through the neighborhoods singing. On the night of March 21-22, everyone goes to their homes with holiday torches. The torches are made of old clothes collected throughout the year and are kept in the hands until the fire is extinguished.
“Peshapay” holiday, rich in folk songs and collectively performed games, is rich in ancient theatrical elements. In the distant past, “Peshapay” was a men’s performance. During long periods of drought, people would go out into the streets and ask God for rain. Usually a boy was dressed in a “clothes” made of tree branches, walked the streets, accompanied by a song with a wish for rain. The songs would continue until it rained.
There is a branch of Baku Pedagogical University in Gusar. Teachers are being trained to teach Lezgin language in primary schools. The branch also develops the Lezgin literature.
Textbooks in the Lezgin language have been published since 1993. According to the information, they are taught in Lezgin language in about 100 schools. The number of I-IV grade classes in these schools is about 200 and more than 2,000 students study in these classes. The number of X-XI grade classes is more than 120 and the number of students studying there is more than 1800.
All people in the Republic of Azerbaijan live in an atmosphere of brotherhood and friendship. After Azerbaijan regained its independence, they were provided with favorable conditions for the protection, development, promotion and expansion of socio-cultural opportunities of their culture and mother tongue. Currently, Talysh ethnic groups present in Lankaran, Astara and Masalli regions of Azerbaijan and books and newspapers are published, radio programs are broadcast in Talysh language. Talysh’s native language and literature are taught in densely populated areas. Alphabet and Talysh grammar books have been published for schools located in these areas.
The Talysh are one of the ancient ethnic groups living in the historical territories of Azerbaijan. The Talysh living in the southern regions of Azerbaijan have historically been engaged in paddy farming, vegetable growing and animal husbandry. However, craftsmanship is one of their main occupations.
Thus, although pottery was widespread in Lankaran, Astara and Masalli, which were rich in yellow clay, blacksmithing was mainly developed in the Lerik mountains. In addition, carpet weaving is widespread among the ethnic occupations of the Talysh as well.
As in other nations of Azerbaijan, the roots of the cult of respect for elders in Talysh families are ancient. Although the children get married and make their own young family, the grandparents lead the family’s household chores. The last word in the family belongs to them. And the grandfather names the babies, and the young people get married with their blessings.
There are many similar elements among the wedding ceremonies of Azerbaijani Turks and Talysh, some of which differ from each other by small ethnographic elements and variety of names. In the Lankaran region, as in all of Azerbaijan, the so-called marriage ceremony consisted of several stages. Traditionally, wedding festivities begin with a song-and-dance ceremony and a dress-making ceremony called “olatebrin” in talysh, and “paltarkesdi” in turkish.
Examples of national cuisine of the Talysh people are known by name. A number of samples of food and sweets, such as lavangi, sirdal, and larji pilaf, have long crossed the ethnic framework and entered the Azerbaijani cuisine.
The tradition of “Halay” dance songs, one of the oldest examples of the all-Azerbaijani cultural heritage, has spread not only in Lankaran, Astara and Masalli districts, where Talysh people live, but also in Aran, Nakhchivan and even beyond the borders of Azerbaijan – Iran and Turkey. However, traces of ancient traditions and ideas of this people are clearly visible in the halay songs performed by the Talysh.
Founded in 1970 in the village of Separadi in Lankaran, the folklore group “Grandmothers” is the custodian of the ancient folk songs of the region’s Talysh and Turks, and they pass this unique treasure from generation to generation.
Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country built on the traditional tolerance and harmonious coexistence of different ethnic and religious groups. The law guarantees equality of rights and freedoms for everyone, regardless of origin, nationality, religion or language.
