Kırgızistan Mezar Ziyaretleri
Mazar Worship in Kyrgyzstan

Summary/Abstract: With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has experienced a religious revivalism. Region-wide religious revivalism is most obvious in increasingly popular mazar worship in Kyrgyzstan. The most common usage of the mazar term in Kyrgyzstan refers to a sacred place or a shrine. These holy sites are centered around natural objects or formations such as springs, caves, unusual rock formations, anthills, mountains, or trees. Some others are located at places where important events are believed to have occurred. Mazar visits hold a central place in spiritual lives of the Kyrgyz. They believe that the mazars have special qualities, are occupied by spirits and that the worship in these sacred sites is delivered to God in a more effective and meaningful way. The mazar-centered beliefs and rituals in Kyrgyzstan go back to pre-Islamic era, but have been adapted with Islamic principles and have survived until today. Throughout long history, a rich mazar culture has come into existence with stories, rituals and belief forms. Even though it has been damaged and even destroyed during the Soviet Union, the mazar tradition has revitalized during independence period with new meanings. The mazars provide new social, cultural, religious and even political functions for the Kyrgyz people today. While the mazars serve as tools for intellectual Kyrgyz who try to construct a national identity, they provide ordinary Kyrgyz with solace and hope of aid for their economic, health and family problems in an era of constant chaos and anxiety.

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