Wednesday 13 November 24 12:54 ۲ بازديد
Iran’s diverse ethnic and cultural landscape is a rich carpet woven over centuries. This intricate mosaic is not only shaped by Iran’s largest ethnic groups, such as Persians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Lurs, but also by smaller groups like Gilakis, Mazandaranis, and Turkmans. Each community adds its unique customs, languages, and beliefs, all contributing to the nation’s vibrant social fabric.
1. Persians (Fars)
The Persians, or Fars people, are Iran’s largest ethnic group. They primarily speak Farsi, Iran’s official language, with regional accents varying across the country. Most Persians are Shia Muslims, residing in large urban areas and forming a significant portion of Iran’s urban population.
2. Azerbaijanis (Azeris)
Iranian Azerbaijanis are predominantly Shia Muslims. They are mainly concentrated in Iran’s northwest, particularly in the provinces of West and East Azerbaijan, as well as in Ardabil and Zanjan.
Their language, Azeri, is closely related to the Turkish spoken in the Republic of Azerbaijan and shares some similarities with Turkish spoken in Turkey.
Azerbaijani culture boasts a distinctive cuisine, featuring dishes such as Koofteh Tabrizi (a meatball made from meat, rice, split peas, and herbs), Dolmeh (minced lamb and rice wrapped in vine leaves), and Dovga (a yogurt-based soup).
Traditional Azeri attire includes gender- and marital status-specific clothing for women and symbolic items like Chukha (men’s outerwear) and Papaq (headwear).
Azeri music and dance, especially those performed by Ashiqs (wandering musicians who play the stringed kopuz), are integral to their cultural expression.
Among the Azerbaijani population are Turkic groups like the Qashqai, some of whom still live nomadic lifestyles, moving between pastures in Shiraz and the Persian Gulf.
3. Kurds
Primarily residing in the Kurdistan province, the majority of Iranian Kurds are Sunni Muslims who speak Kurdish and share cultural ties with Kurds in Turkey and Iraq.
Kurdish culture includes vibrant music, rich oral traditions, and unique dances where men and women join hands in a circle, symbolizing unity.
Kurdish clothing is traditional and region-specific: men wear baggy pants called pantol with a twisted sash, while women don colorful gowns adorned with sequins. Kurdish cuisine highlights dishes like rhubarb stew and various herbal stews.
4. Lors
The Lors live mainly in western Iran across provinces like Lorestan, Khuzestan, and Koh Giluye va Boir Ahmad.
Most Lors are Shia Muslims, and many still practice pastoralism. Lurish dance and music play vital roles in their culture, with instruments like the Sorna (a wind instrument) and Dohol (drum) featured prominently.
Lurish attire varies by subgroup, with common items including Juma (a long dress) for women and Chuqha (a sheep-wool cloak) for Bakhtiari men, one of the most prominent Lor tribes.
The Golvani celebration in May, honoring a traditional headscarf, is a key cultural event. Lur cuisine features kebabs like Boroujerdi and Bakhtiari.
Northern Coastal Communities
5. Gilakis
The Gilakis, native to Gilan province along the Caspian Sea, contribute significantly to Iran’s economy through fishing, silk production, and agriculture.
Their cuisine is famous, with Rasht, the capital city, recognized by UNESCO for its gastronomy. Gilaki dishes, such as Baghali Ghatogh (fava bean stew) and Mirza Ghasemi (smoked eggplant), are popular throughout Iran.
Known for their colorful clothing, Gilak women rarely wear black, even for mourning. The Nowruz Khani (singing for Nowruz) is a tradition celebrating the Persian New Year, while Gileh-Mardi wrestling is a symbol of bravery among Gilaki men.
6. Mazandaranis (Mazanis)
Neighboring the Gilakis along the southern Caspian coast, the Mazandaranis speak a similar dialect. Their cuisine shares commonalities with Gilani food, relying on pomegranate paste as a staple.
A unique ceremony in Mazandaran is Varf Chal, held annually in May, in which men collect winter snow to preserve water for summer.
Nakhl Gardani commemorates Ashura, while the Nowruz Mah festival celebrates the rice harvest in early August. Mazani clothing is colorful and inspired by nature, with pleated skirts for women and job-specific attire for men.
Southwestern Coastal People
7. Arabs
Iranian Arabs are primarily based in Khuzestan, Bushehr, and Hormozgan provinces near the Persian Gulf.
Predominantly Shia, they have a distinctive cuisine rich in seafood, dates, and rice dishes like Falafel, Sambusa, and Ghalieh Mahi (fish stew).
Traditional attire for men includes the Dishdasha, a long-sleeved white robe, and Keffiyeh, a headscarf. Women often wear loose, black robes such as the aba or jilbab.
In Khuzestan, the Bandari music and dance, marked by a strong, fast rhythm, are popular. The coffee ritual in Mozif, an arched bamboo structure, is also notable in Arab culture.
Eastern Nomadic Groups
8. Baluchs
The Baluchs, living predominantly in Sistan and Baluchestan, are Sunni Muslims organized into tribes like the Riggi and Shahbakhsh.
Baluchi attire is functional, with men wearing knee-length shirts and baggy pants, while women’s clothing is richly embroidered with Suzandozi, a traditional needlework adorned with mirror pieces.
Notably, Bjar, a tradition where families support young men financially for marriage, is a testament to Baluchi community values. Their culture emphasizes hospitality and includes folk music, dance, and camel racing.
Turkmans
9. Turkmans
Located in Golestan and North Khorasan, the Turkmans speak a dialect related to that of Turkmenistan and share cultural roots with Turkic and Tatar groups.
Horse racing is deeply embedded in their culture, with Turkmans learning to ride from an early age. Their wedding ceremonies often include multi-day celebrations and competitions like wrestling.
Turkmen men wear wool hats, while brides arrive at the groom’s home in a Kajaveh on camels, symbolizing a unique cultural heritage.
Smaller Ethnic and Religious Minorities
10. Talysh People
The Talyshis, residing on the western shore of the Caspian, primarily practice Shia Islam and are known for their longevity. Their homeland, centered around Lankaran, overlaps with Azerbaijan, highlighting cross-border cultural ties.
11. Tats
The Tats, living near the Alborz mountains, are predominantly Shia Muslims. Their language, Tati, is closely related to Talysh, reflecting Northwestern Iranian linguistic roots.
12. Armenians
Armenians in Iran, primarily Christian, form the country’s largest Christian minority. Historically influential, Armenians played a crucial role in Iran’s economy during the Safavid era, especially in Isfahan’s New Julfa district, which served as a hub for international trade.
13. Georgians
Iranian Georgians, Shia Muslims in contrast to the predominantly Christian Georgians outside Iran, maintain a clear Georgian identity, with communities in cities like Tehran and Isfahan.
14. Kazakhs
Small Kazakh communities are found in Golestan, with many Kazakhs having returned to Kazakhstan after the Soviet Union’s dissolution.
15. Circassians
Historically a significant group in Iran, Circassians have largely assimilated, yet maintain a distinct identity as the country’s second-largest Caucasian ethnic group after Georgians.
Religious Minorities
1. Jews
Iranian Judaism, dating back to biblical times, is represented by around 10,800 individuals concentrated in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Iran holds the second-largest Jewish population in the Muslim world.
2. Zoroastrians
Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced religions, originated in ancient Persia and was the dominant faith in Iran until the Arab conquest and subsequent spread of Islam in the 7th century.
Zoroastrians follow the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, and their beliefs emphasize the concepts of good and evil and the importance of individual choice.
Although the Zoroastrian population has diminished over time, a small but significant community remains in Iran today, particularly in the cities of Yazd and Kerman.
Their fire temples, which house the eternal flame symbolizing purity, are among the religion’s most significant cultural symbols.
3. Christians
Christianity in Iran dates back to the early years of the religion during the time of Jesus. Throughout its history, the Christian faith has been followed by a minority of the Iranian population, under various dominant religions: Zoroastrianism in ancient Persia, Sunni Islam following the Arab conquest in the Middle Ages, and Shia Islam since the Safavid conversion in the 15th century.
Historically, Christians comprised a larger portion of the population than they do today. Iranian Christians have made significant contributions to the global Christian mission, and there are currently at least 600 churches within Iran.
4. Assyrians
The Assyrian people of Iran are a Semitic ethnic group who speak modern Assyrian, a Neo-Aramaic language, and practice Eastern Rite Christianity.
Most Iranian Assyrians belong to the Assyrian Church of the East, though smaller numbers are members of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, and Ancient Church of the East.
They trace their heritage to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and share a cultural and religious identity with Assyrians across the Middle East, including in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, as well as within the Assyrian diaspora.
The majority of Iranian Assyrians reside in the capital, Tehran, though approximately 15,000 Assyrians live in northern Iran, particularly in Urmia and surrounding villages.
5. Mandaeans
Mandaeans in Iran, an ethno-religious community with roots in ancient Mesopotamia, reside primarily in the Khuzestan Province in southern Iran.
This group speaks Mandaic and follows Mandaeism, a unique Gnostic, monotheistic religion sometimes referred to as Sabianism, named after the enigmatic Sabians mentioned in the Quran—a term that has historically been associated with various groups.
The Mandaeans revere John the Baptist (Yaḥyā ibn Zakarīyā) as their principal prophet and hold a distinct set of beliefs and practices that set them apart within the Iranian religious landscape.
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