Tradition of ashuro among the Iranians of Bukhara: Sources and Historical and Cultural Context

Abstract

The work of Alexander Djumaev is about religious perceptions and practices related to the ritual of 'ashuro (rawzakhoni) in the Iranian Shi'ite community of Uzbekistan. It resulted from comparative analysis of medieval written sources, pre-revolutionary and contemporary ethnographic field data. There are three main objects of the study: Shi'ite 'ashuro perceptions and ceremonies ('ashuro) in the Sunnis historical context of Central Asia; particularities of performing 'ashuro in the town and district of Bukhara; musical and poetical elements of this ritual. Ceremonies of the ritual differs depending on the place where it is performed, such as memorial prayer house (Husayniyyakhona) or private house. Performing activity (reciter, singer, preacher) in the 'ashuro tradition corresponds with main phases of dramaturgical development of the 'ashuro ceremony, such as manqabat (or manqabatkhoni), nawhakhoni and rawzakhoni. Each of them has its own style of performing and social cultural status.