Yazidis perform Karajal pilgrimage in Duhok province
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DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - Yazidis in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province marched on a sacred pilgrimage on Wednesday. Called the Karajal pilgrimage, community members hike over a kilometer to a shrine atop a mountain in the Sharya area.
People of different ages and genders perform traditional dances while trekking up the mountain.
Daristan Nasrat and her family came from Germany to participate.
"I came from Germany with my family. We came to the Karajal pilgrimage. God willing, may they perform this pilgrimage every year in happiness. This pilgrimage has been passed down to us by our ancestors, and our parents continue to perform this pilgrimage. We also want to do it every year in happiness like them," she told Rudaw.
On the return journey, each pilgrim brings a branch of a tree with them as a reward for completing the pilgrimage.
At the foot of the mountain, men bid farewell to the shrine by walking backwards and women face forward as they head toward the gathering place.
The Karajal pilgrimage takes place annually on the second Wednesday after Chwarshama Sur (Red Wednesday), the Yazidi New Year.
It is one of the 45 events observed by Yazidis.
Ayub Nasri contributed to this article.
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