From Twitter. 

ای سگ برینه توی مغز هرچی عرزشی و ولایتمداره با این فوتوشاپ‌شون! اینا دارن میان یا دارن میرن؟ :)))

Cyruss these rituals as you mentioned have many different verities. The one you described in Kerend is the "Ahle Hagh" version that is practiced so differently from the one I described. Also the Turks in Tuekey have their own "Sama'a" that they have turned into a tourist industry. Nowadays in Kurdistan, the Mofties have condemned the crazy stuffs and it's been watered down and much safer.

Kamkar, thanks for sharing.

 

What you described sounds like “ ghaderi” discipline of Sufi dynasty, if I’m not wrong.

 

As a teen ager , I had limited exposure to meet some of these Daravish in Kerend. Although I was not allowed to witness their ritualistic ceremonies.

 

While Ghaderis were mostly concentrated in southern regions of Kurdistan and kermanshan, in the northern areas and areas with the mixed population of Azeri/ Kurd, naghshbandi sect was more prominent.

 

The world of Sufism is very interesting to study and observe for me. Once you go beyond the religious surface, it is fascinating to observe and understand the symbolism of it, particularly as you go more westerly.

 

It is unfortunate to see that most of the sects lost their core of philosophy of resistance to the culture of religious submission through times.

Cyruss, I didn't know that Hemen is the same as John or Yohanes. I had an uncle (Mamo Hemen) in Senah (Sanandaj) who recently passed away. He was a Sufi/Darvish who was into the extreme Whiling ritual. As a kid I was impressed with his long hair that he would tuck in his flat hat. During some religous ritual ceremonies, we used to call Moloodi he along with the other Darvishes would let their hair loose. They'd start slowly chanting the "La Ilaha Ilala" and then higher their tempo as time passed on. After a while a "Khalseh" (a Trans like state) will be reached and some crazy events will follow.

 

My father forbid us to attend and watch these rituals but I was too hard headed and found ways with other uncles to go and watch. Sikh kabab to penetrate their tongues, shatered glasses down their throats and sticking their finger in the 220 volts electrical lamp socket, were a few of their mind boggling practices I witnessed many times in such occasions. He wasn't a Mulla or a Mofti and actually worked for a living as a truck (The benz10 tons) driver. 

Kamkar, there 12 earthquakes last night in Imperial County of San Diego last night. Farzad felt one in his area on Friday or Saturday.

 

This goes to demonstrate to you the dynamic 4 season nature of California! We had the storm season, shortly after the EQ season, and apparently next weekend back to storm!

 

BTW, the Kurdish answer to the trivia is “ HEMEN”. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

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