Khidir
Aghul · numen · Aghul traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Khidir is the folk patron of spring, green growth and abundance in the Aghul calendar year, his coming marking the renewal of vegetation and the promise of a fruitful season. Celebrated at the turn from winter with observances shared across Daghestan, he blesses households with plenty and is invoked as a helper of travelers. His cult fuses the Islamic figure of al-Khidr with older South-Daghestanian seasonal rite.
Domains
- spring and vegetation
- abundance and fertility
Powers
- brings the renewal of spring and green growth
- blesses households with plenty
Epithets
- Хидир Неби — Khidir the ProphetБулатова А.Г. Сельскохозяйственный календарь и календарные обычаи и обряды народов Дагестана. СПб., 1999. (secondary)
Sources
- Khidir is a folk patron of spring, vegetation and abundance in the South-Daghestanian calendar, syncretising al-Khidr with older seasonal rite.: Булатова А.Г. Сельскохозяйственный календарь и календарные обычаи и обряды народов Дагестана. СПб.: Петербургское Востоковедение, 1999. (secondary); Сефербеков Р.И. Пантеон языческих божеств народов Дагестана. Махачкала, 2009. (secondary)