Anatolian Alevis - Haydar Taştan

Anatolian Alevis’ heterodox, mystical belief system was influenced by pre-Islamic Anatolian shamanistic practices, Zoroastrianism, and only later by Shia Islam. Alevism is not a stagnate belief but has evolved by interacting with various beliefs, spiritual doctrines and cultures over a wide geographical area from Central Asia to Balkan Mountains throughout the history. A process of gradual convergence between various different mystical schools since the 13th century constitutes what we call Alevism today. The concept of Alevism is actually a broad term covers different language and ethnic communities sharing same belief components. Alevism cosmology understands the relation between god, cosmos and human in a unity.

Cem (the ritual of gathering) is the main ritual in Alevism. This special ritual is modeled on a mystical event, the Assembly of the Forty Being. They gather with the motto of “all for one, one for all.” However, there are various forms of Cem. The most regular Cems are conducted on weekly basis. In these gatherings where men and women can come together under the same roof, the belief community converse about daily as well as spiritual issues, chant deyis (hymns), perform semah (ritual dance) and consume lokma (communal meal) at the end of the ritual.

Alevis are the second largest belief community in Turkey. The population of Alevis is estimated at approximately 25 million out of 80 million population in Turkey.

-Ongoing project-

Kahramanmaraş, 2019

Dersim, 2014