An evaluation on the Rain Prayers in Tire Region of İzmir
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2002
Yazarlar: Metin EKİCİ
MILLI FOLKLOR, SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, Scopus, 2002, cilt 7, ss 46-52
Özet
One of the most interesting traditional folk practices of Turkish people, both in Turkey and in Central Asia, is "Rain Prayer". At first, this traditional practice looks like a religious practice, but when one try to examine the elements attached into this practice with their deeper meanings, it becomes clear that the practice has number of non-religious, local and national cultural elements that have nothing to do with the current religion of Turkish people. As a case of this study, I have taken the rain prayers in Tire Region of İzmir-Turkey. The main aim of this article is to find out whether the rain prayers in the region is practiced as part of İslam, or does it has many different elements have lived throughout the centuries with Turkish people since their migration from Central Asia toward the West. As a result of my examination, it is cleared that the rain prayers in Tire Region of İzmir has number elements have taken from Shamanism ana ancient beliefs of Turkish people. Another finding is that there are two types of rain prayers in the region: One is practiced by a group of children, and the second one is prayed by the adults of the town. The aim of both practices is to overcome economical difficulties that arises when the season is very dry. At the same time, while experiencing this pratice is to shape the people of the town as a society. The pratice helps every person to become a member of a society.