Bukhur and Gêçîn Among the Yezidis

Bukhur (Incense)

Bukhur is a herb that grows during the spring season. Yezidis collect it, dry it, and incorporate it into their religious ceremonies and rituals. In Yezidi mythology, Bukhur symbolizes the expulsion of malevolent and evil spirits, allowing only beneficial and pure spirits to enter the Lalish Temple. In this sense, Bukhur represents purification.

The person who carries the bowl of Bukhur at the Lalish Temple must be a Shkasti (ascetic or celibate), whether male or female. A Shkasti is a person who does not enter into married life, choosing instead to abstain from worldly pleasures and dedicate themselves to spiritual devotion and preparation for the afterlife.

During the religious Sama ceremony at Lalish, Bukhur is burned. On the evenings of Wednesdays and Fridays, the lady of the house (Day Kabany) or a Faqir carries a bowl filled with burning embers along with a pouch of Bukhur. Throughout the ceremony, small amounts of Bukhur are placed onto the embers, releasing a fragrant smoke that fills the shrines of the holy figures (Aqdên Khasa) and the temple with an atmosphere of reverence and sanctity.

Bukhur is also burned when the lamps of Lalish are replaced. Furthermore, when Yezidis bring newborn children (Bzri) to the Lalish Temple, they are welcomed with the bowl of Bukhur. It is likewise used in many other religious ceremonies and traditions.

The Qawl of Sheikh and Aqub highlights the sacredness of Bukhur:

The Bridge of Serat is green,

You smell of Bukhur, amber, and musk,

The pious of Sultan Ezi possess wealth and livelihood.

Gêçîn (Plastering with Gypsum)

In ancient times, humans lived in caves. After the cave-dwelling period, people gradually adopted an agricultural lifestyle and settled near rivers. Because the climate along rivers and within mountainous regions was often cold, people benefited from the warmth of the sun. For this reason, they prayed to the sun and regarded it as a source of life and comfort.

Historical sources indicate that the earliest prayers performed by humans were prayers directed toward the East and the West. Interestingly, these prayers continue to be practiced among the Yezidis to this day. Later, temples dedicated to the sun were constructed. The houses and temples of that period were commonly built from mud bricks (kerpîç).

Within Yezidi tradition, certain customs and activities were prohibited during the month of April, including moving a bride to her new home and constructing houses. This prohibition was not primarily religious in nature but was closely connected to natural conditions. April marks the end of the rainy season, a time when weather conditions are unpredictable and people cannot know when rain may return. Wise elders recognized that this period was unsuitable for construction because there was insufficient straw, husks, and other dry materials needed to produce mud bricks, which are made from a mixture of soil, water, and straw.

Construction work traditionally begins after April, when digging the earth becomes permissible. During April, Yezidis refrain from digging the ground. According to Yezidi mythology, the earth was created during the month of April and is therefore considered tender and sacred. This belief is reflected in the tradition known as Gêçîn, derived from the word gêç (gypsum).

Among Yezidis, the practice is also known as Gêçîna Khasa, referring to the whitening of the sacred domes (Qubên Khasa) of holy figures with gypsum. The tradition begins on the first of May according to the Eastern calendar, when houses are renewed and decorated with fresh mud, often colored red.

For information, the Tawaf of Gêçîn is held in the village of Dughata, which belongs to the Alqosh sub-district.