The Cemal Abdal Ocak (Dersim) & Elif Ana

In this video, Pir Hüseyin Elmas examines in greater depth the belief practices and ritual repertoire shaped around the Cemal Abdal Ocak in Dersim. While explaining the internal structure of the Ocak tradition, the functioning of talip–pir relations, and how these relations are sustained on the basis of religious guidance, he draws attention to the ethical rules and social balances that ensure the continuity of ritual order. At the center of the narrative are Pir Hüseyin Elmas’s childhood memories related to the Cemal Abdal Ocak. These memories reveal that ritual practice carries not only a religious dimension but also emotional and educational ones.

This video was recorded within the framework of the Pirler–Analar Workshop hosted by the Dortmund Alevi Cultural Center – Rıza Şehri Academy (DAKME) on 10–11 May 2025 and forms part of the Alevi Encyclopedia project’s archival work documenting oral culture in digital form.