Beyit (Beyıt / Beyıte)
Beyıte (or Beyıt) is the general term for the poems recited during ritual worship in the belief system of Raa Haqi. These poems vary according...
Kirvelik (2)
This entry examines the institution of kirvelik (Kivralık / Kirve / Kewra / Kirêw & Male Circumcision) in the context of Dersim Alevism (Raa Haqi),...
Ahiret (Axrete / Axiret) in Dersim Alevism
Axrete (afterlife) refers to the sacred realm in the belief system of Dersim Alevism (Raa Haqi) where post-mortem existence takes place. As one of the...
Hard / Erd (Earth / Soil)
Hard / Erd (earth/soil) in the belief world of Dersim Alevism (Raa Haqi) refers to the space in which material life is sustained. However, it...
Zahir & Batın in Dersim Alevism
This entry examines the cosmology of Dersim Alevism (Raa Haqi) through the distinction between Zahir - Na Dina (Neq Dina/Wa Dünya - this world)...
Apsu (Abşu, Avsu)
“Apsu” (Kırmanckî/Kurmancî: Avsu, Abşu, Absu) is a ritual practice within the Dersim belief system that carries functions of protection, purification, and healing. Apsu is also...
Bext (Baht)
Bext (Turkish: Baht) is one of the thirty qualities granted to humans by Haq in the Raa Haqi belief system and expresses the wish for...
The Religious Calendar in Dersim Alevism (Raa Haqi): Gağan, Xızır/Hızır, Black Wednesday (Kara Çarşamba), and Hawtemal/Heftemal
This entry provides a comprehensive analysis of the sacred days and periods that constitute the religious calendar of Dersim Alevism (Raa Haqi)—with particular attention to...
