The Kazakh folk custom of davra

Abstract

This article contains an analysis of Kazakh custom of davra (in Kazakh is “daure”), that referred to cycle of funeral rituals. This custom was quite well described in the second half of the 19th century and was designated as an original Islamic rite in the works of this period. In the 20th century a number of studies are coming out, in that are indicated pre-Islamic origin of “daure”.

The aim of article is to define whether custom of “daure” determined by Islamic canons or this custom also related with pre-Islamic beliefs. The source base of the research consists of pre-revolutionary editions, such as works of Y. Altynsarin, Sh. M. Ibragimov, N. I. Grodekov. Internet sources were used to describe the modern state of this rite, since the ritual, despite signs of its “revival”, is a rare event. The novelty of article consists in the application of a new analysis perspective of Kazakh rituals and beliefs from the point of ratio of Islamic and pre-Islamic elements. In the article it is proposed to refer this rite to a variant of synthesis of pre-Islamic and Islamic rituality.

The essence of the rite is «transfer» deceased people on other peoples, animals and objects of the material world. The results of the study were data that the concept of the rite was formed in the pre-Islamic era, and later underwent significant changes, and in the popular worldview began to be considered an Islamic custom. This concept was formed in the pre-Islamic epoch, then it was significantly rethought in the national consciousness and has come to be recognized as a native Islamic custom. Thus, this ritual included Islamic elements, such as redemption of wrongdoings for violating the canons of the Islamic faith, participation of mullah, reading a prayer.

In whole, researches in this field could help to reveal distinctive features of traditional and modern Kazakh religious worldview. The article consists of introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusions of research.