“This is the path of our ancestors. Our forefathers preserved this and we are obligated to preserve this path like them. A person is known by their nature. No matter what happens, one should not abandon the traditions of their ancestors. One must follow in the footsteps of their forefathers,” Nafia Asfar, a Yazidi woman taking part in the ceremony, told Rudaw on Saturday.
The Yazidi faithful carrying offerings of bread (nan) and yogurt (mast) were met by the religious leader Baba Chawish.
The yogurt offerings are handed over to Nala Faqiri, the temple caretaker, and a portion is used to prepare dough. This is done by mixing it with water drawn from the sacred Zamzam and Kaniya Spi springs, which hold significance in Yazidi traditions.
The bread is placed in a designated sacred area within the temple. As part of the ritual, a portion of the bread is ceremonially sprinkled with water.
“It's very nice that all the villagers gather together and we pray for ourselves. God willing, may it be a year of goodness and happiness,” said Zawra Mirza, another Yazidi woman participating in the ritual.
The ceremony concludes with traditional dancing. These ancient practices passed down through generations reflect the enduring cultural and spiritual heritage of the Yazidi people.
The Yazidis have endured years of suffering under the Islamic State (ISIS), losing many loved ones to the group’s violent acts. ISIS militants abducted more than 6,000 Yazidis, mainly young women and children, when in 2014 they seized control of Shingal in northern Iraq. The fate of 2,832 of them remains unknown, according to the most recent statistics from the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis, which is affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
The office has also documented 93 mass graves of Yazidis who were killed by ISIS militants between 2014 and 2017.