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religious
ICH Elements 6
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Poe-zo: Incense making
An artistic product often like a stick or a bunch of sticks basically made from powders of mixed aromatic plants and medicinal substances. It emits sweet fragrance smoke when burnt and normally offered in and at the sacred places to please deities and to get cleansed and rid-off defilements. The production of incense is considered one of the religious crafts, and it is another way of making Sang (smoke) offering. According to the Bhutanese artisans’, the craftsmanship dates back to the time immemorable when the first Lord Buddha Nam-par zig-pa (Skt. Bispa shayi) attained enlightenment and offered the Sweet Fragrance smoke by burning the Incenses by the enlightened beings; celestial beings and Bodhiasattavas made from varieties of heavenly medicinal herbs. The tradition gradually spread in the spheres of Bonpos (per Buddhist religion of Tibet) and Hinduism and maintained its skill until Buddha Sakya Muni’s period which is about 2500 years back then. The art was also adopted by the Chinese Buddhist missioners and further spread to Mongolia, Korea and Japan as well. In Tibet, the making Smoke offerings and burning incense was officially implemented the 7th Century during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo (R. 618 AD- 650 AD) when Princess Wenchang (M. 641 AD-650 AD) and her entourage members suffered illness while heading towards Lhasa (then, the capital of Tibet) as bride to the King. The Princess tried to medicated using physician attendants but could not bring to the normal yet, by offering the smoke offering made attendants fully recovered. The instruction to make Smoke Offering was from the Minister Thonmi Sambota () who had a visualization from the sacred Sakya Muni images to collect the medicinal herbs from the mountains and making smokes will ease any diseases associated to Nagas. Later, incense making and burning tradition was gradually invented using the same raw materials and medicinal ingredients of Smoke offering. In Bhutan, the art of Incense making was brought by the Country Unifier Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1654) and was initially practiced in the Dzongs (fortress) by the monk artisans. Thereafter, the tradition remained intact amongst the Bhutanese being the Buddhist and making offering of incense had been a daily special offering substances in the individual shrines, temples and monasteries. Currently, there are a countable incense manufacturing centers across the country. These industries produce mainly two different incenses: Ja-ju poe (herbal incense) with a yellowish texture and Zu-poe or Choe-jue poe (incense mixed with flesh and blood ingredients) with a brown color. Ja-ju incense is usually burned explicitly for the enlightened beings and when performing Drol-chog (ritual of Goddess Tara), while the other is offered to the guardian deities and guardian spirits during affirmation rituals.
Bhutan -
MADDOH, maddokhoni, madhiyasaroi
A kind of musical and literary performance, which is widespread among peoples of Badakhshan province. It is connected with religious meanings and performed usually in the funeral rites with local musical instruments.
Tajikistan -
Eid holidays
NAYIT is an Arabic word. Eid means holiday. In the Islamic tradition, two Eids are officially celebrated as religious holidays: the great Eid or the Eid of Sacrifice (Arabic: Eid al-Kabir, Eid al-Adha) and the lesser Eid, or Eid of fasting (Arabic: Eid al-Sagheer, Eid al-Fitr). Eid al-Adha is associated with the pilgrimage and sacrifice, and Eid al-Fitr is about opening the mouth at the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zu-l-Hijjah, and Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the 1st day of Shawwal. Eid al-Fitr prayer in the mosque in the morning, giving al-Fitr charity (before the Eid al-Fitr prayer), and making sacrifices on Eid al-Fitr, etc. rites related to Islam arose. In many places, the local customs of the peoples are included in these Eid rituals: sharing food on the eve, wearing new clothes, giving "Hayt", going for a walk, visiting loved ones, etc. also joined.
Uzbekistan -
NA’T-KHONI nahtkhoni, naht
Traditional folksongs with religious and ethical contents, which are performed in social gatherings.
Tajikistan
ICH Materials 12
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Eid al Fitr (Ramadan Eid)
In Islam, Ramadan and Qurban Eids are celebrated in Arabic as “Eid al-Fitr” and “Eid-ul-Adha”. These two Eids began to be celebrated in the second year of the Hegira.The fast of the month of Ramadan is the first month that the month of Ramadhan has been celebrated and the month of Ramadan is celebrated by the believers who fast this month. Therefore, it is also called “Fitr Eid” because it is given as donation al-fitr before Ramadaan Eid.
Uzbekistan -
Eid ul Adha (Qurban Eid)
Qurban Eid, which began on the tenth day of the month of Zulhijjah, is celebrated for three days, and it is called so because on this day an animal is sacrificed. Although the Hajj prayer was enjoined in the ninth year of the Hegira, Qurbon Eid and bringing a sacrifice were prescribed for the second year of the Hegira as it was prescribed for fasting and Ramadan. On the day of Ramadan, the believers celebrate the blessed month of worship and hope for the mercy of Allah.Muslims visit each other on this day, congratulate with Eid, eat and drink, and enjoy the sacrament.
Uzbekistan