The Festival of Pir Shalyar

The festival of Pir Shalyar is an old tradition celebrated twice a year; in the early days of February under the name “Weddig of Pir Shalyar” and in early May under the name “Kumsay”

Who Was Pir Shalyar?

The people of Oramanat (a city in, and the capital of, Uraman District of Sarvabad County, Kurdistan Province of Iran) believe that Pir Shalyar was a descendant of the Prophet of Islam, whose real name was Sayyid Mustafa and he spent most of his life in worship. Some of the people of Kaljin Village of this region introduce themselves as the descendants of Pir Shalyar, and because of their lineage to the Prophet of Islam, they are referred to as Sayyid.

It is said that Pir Shalyar was a student of a famous mystic named Abdul Qadir Gilani who lived around the 11th century AD and at the same time as the Samanid rule when Bukhara (located in today’s Uzbekistan) was the capital of this dynasty.

According to the people of Horaman people, Pir Shalyar used to cater to the needs of people during his lifetime, and extraordinary things were seen from him. He engaged in prayers in the room that still exists next to his tomb.

Tomb of Pir Shalyar

The tomb built over Pir Shalyar’s grave is a stone room with a small green dome. The grave is covered with a box and green cloth.

There is a stout oak tree behind the tomb, which according to local people, leaning on it cures back pain.

Pir Shalyar’s tomb is located among the mountains of Takhthani, Pir Rostam, Mele Asb, and Kosalan at a distance of 75 km from Marivan County and 155 km from Sanandaj.

The Story of Pir Shalyar’s Wedding

One of the stories told about Pir Shalyar is the healing of Shahbahar Khatoon, the daughter of the king of Bukhara (probably a Samanid king). According to this story, Shahbahar Khatoon was deaf and dumb, and all the doctors had lost hope in treating her. The king had made a pledge that whoever could heal his daughter could marry her. Coming to know about Pir Shalyar, the king’s uncle along with a group of people moved to Oramant and took the king’s daughter to Pir Shalyar. Near the village of “Oraman Takht”, the girl’s ears get healed, and as soon as they reached Pir Shalyar’s house, a demon (legendary evil creature) roared and fell out from the chimney (which is now known as is known as “Devils Chimney) of his house and died and with the death of the demon, Shahbahar Khatoon got completely cured and also began to talk.

After this occurrence, the king set up a wedding ceremony and married his daughter to Pir Shalyar. The ceremony held by the Kurds today is the anniversary of that ceremony.

The Tradition of Celebrating Pir Shalyar’s Wedding Anniversary

This ceremony starts on a Wednesday in early February and lasts for three days. During this period, the people of Oraman Takht close down their work to participate in the celebration. At the beginning of the festivities, the walnuts picked from Pir Shalyar’s orchard are sent to the villagers, and the herdsmen take the herds they intend to sacrifice during this ceremony to the front of Pir Shalyar’s house. After sacrificing the herds, part of the meat is distributed among the people, and the other part is taken to Pir Shalyar’s house to cook the food for the ceremony. The food of the ceremony is “Barely Aush” or “Holoshineh Teshi”, which according to the people, is the same food that was cooked at the Pir Shalyar’s wedding a thousand years ago.

How is the Ceremony Celebrated?

From the afternoon of the first day, men hold hands to form a large chain and start a coordinated dance while showing their solidarity. During the dance, some play the tambourine and some sing poems in praise of the Prophet of Islam. On the last day, when the main ceremony is held, people celebrate until the night. On this night, some elders enumerate the qualities of Pir Shalyar and finally, the ceremony ends with a prayer after reciting some hymns and odes.

Kumsay

Another ceremony in honor of Pir Shalyar is “Kumsay”, which means gathering to learn. It is not known when this custom was started, but according to researchers, it dates back to before the advent of Islam in Iran and it was after the era of Pir Shalyar that it was given certain religious and mystical aspects.

The Story of Kumsay

According to a legend that is famous among the Kurdish people, one day a follower of Pir Shalyar named “Gomar” went to him and complained about the lessening of milk from his cattle. Pir Shalyar guided Gomar to the tomb of a dervish who cured domestic animals. With the guidance of Pir Shaliar, Gomar scraped a little from the stone near the tomb of that dervish and tied it to the stomach of his cattle, and in this way, their milk increased.

Kumsai Ceremony

The Kumsai ceremony starts in the early morning and ends before noon every year in mid-spring (early May). Until a few decades ago, Kumsay was performed in its original style. However, due to the change in people’s lifestyles, this ceremony has taken on a symbolic aspect, in the course of which the problems of the villages are discussed.