Iran nomads lifestyle
Iran nomads have really interesting lifestyle. Iran nomads never settle down permanently and they are always seeking for better weather conditions for their live stock. You will be amazed by simple Iranian nomadic lifestyle. There are two great tribes in Iran who migrate from one place to the other yet. Bakhtiari tribe or Il and Qashqai tribe with a unique lifestyle and different perspective. If you want to know where to find the nomads, continue with Chiyakotravel.
Tribes of Iran nomads
The life of Iran nomads is linked to migration. They travel twice a year with their logistics, hike the mountains and hills, and endure the hardships of crossing valleys, rivers and mountains to find better pastures and water and more temperate weather. In the past, the number of Iran nomads was higher, but over time, many of them started to settle down for ever, although there are still Iran nomads who are committed to their migration and the simple and intimate life of their people in different parts of Iran is going on.
Migration areas and nomadic lifestyle of Bakhtiari tribe (Il)
The countryside where is the residence in summer is confined to the city of Fereydan to the city of Dorood, and the other one confines from the city of Semirom to the Lordegan (near Isfahan). The winter residence is within the Dezful city area and the restriction in Ize and Ramhormoz. In their nomadic lifestyle they migrate between these lands during different seasons.
Bakhtiari Yeilagh and Qeshlagh:
- Yeilagh is summer residence area of the tribes.
- Qeshlagh is the winter residence area of the tribes.
Sixteen-thousand people of Bakhtiari tribe with more than one million and fifty thousand livestock spend a five-month period from last May and June to October in Yeilagh every year. The period of stay of this Iranian nomadic lifestyle in warm area is around 7 months. This migration is with the aim of finding fresh and green meadows for their herds. Because animal husbandry is the basic foundation of Bakhtiari’s economical activities. Dairy and meat, skins and by-products are among the most important products of them. If you like to be part of this amazing nomadic lifestyle of Iran, you will face a lot of amazing things during your visit.
Bakhtiaris use various paths for their migration which depend on weather situation and how agile is the caravan. Subsidiary ways drag the nomadic cliffs to the main tributaries of Taraz, Hezar Cham, Koohe Sefid, DoAb, and Dezpart. They must smooth crossing roads each time by applying creativity and tact. Because their route passes through twisty highlands, and impracticable mountains of Zagros Mountains range and the various rivers of Karun, it is one of the most uneven nomadic roads in the country and it is still one of the most important problems for Bakhtiari settler. Crafts, dairy and special needles from Bakhtiari people are handicrafts that you can buy as souvenirs from these lovely people, as a reminder of the days you were with the Kuch. Many people do not dare to even experience nomadic lifestyle, while there are many tourists who love to be part on Iran nomad tours.
Become a companion of Il Bakhtiari(tribe)
Bakhtiari Kuch will start from March 13th and continues until May 4th from Ramhormoz (Khuzestan South-West) to Sabzkooh (Charmahal-o-Bakhtiari) which is a 320 km path. They cross all the way by their quadruped. Along the route, which takes about 20 to 25 days, the pastures are used for feeding their livestock. This route passes through the cities of Haftgol – Baghmalk – Qaleh Tel – Barangard – Izeh and Dehdez in Khuzestan province and Lordgan in Chaharmahal province. They finally settle down in the protected area of Sabzeh Kuh in Borujen town of Chaharmahal state.
Note: Accompanying with nomad requires bravery, physical fitness and fighter spirit. During this trip due to the season of Kuch and crossing from highlands, unstable weather conditions will definitely happen.
Migration areas and nomadic lifestyle of Qashqai tribe (Il)
Qashqai is another great ancient tribes of the earth. Most of Qashqai tribes reside in Fars province. Many of them still move from country to country in the different seasons of the year. Like many other ethnic minorities, the Qashqai are of Turkish descent. They are a brave ethnicity who never give up. One of the most important tribal areas of Iran is Fars province and the largest tribe of Iran (Qashqai tribe) with six clans in Fars continue to migrate.
The khans of each tribe also have their own special servants, which they also call “round the clock” but are not part of the tribe.
The Qashqai tribe organization is as follows from person to tribe:
person-family -Ishum-gentile-clan-tribe.
Each tribe made up of several gentiles and each gentile consists of several “Ishum” and each Ishum made of several families. There are a grey-bread for whole Ill, and one or two head men for each gentile, one to three sheriffs for each clan. Sheriffs, who belong to females, are elected by the government to handle the affairs of their clan and to establish security and discipline.
Qashqai continuously migrate between six zones of Semirom, Dena mountain range, Chahardanga border, Kam Firouz, Kakan and surrounding towns of Abadeh, Shahreza, Ardakan, Merah Mountains to the tropical lands of Yilaq, Mahir Bayanir, Persian Gulf Kazeroun, Farash Band, Kazer, Kazerin, Khajer, Takhtar, Brick, Firoozabad, Khawaja, Dashti and Dashtestan.
tents in Iran nomads lifestyle
The tents of the tribes, with the name of Bohun, made of goat’s hair and they are black. These tents are rectangular and consist of several sections: the ceiling, the tentacles, poles, straps, long wooden nails, small wooden nails or “Shish” and wrappers or The “chig” or “ni chi” formed around the tent.
The shape of the tent varies in summer and winter. In winter, most beams placed in and around the tent, making the roof cone-shaped so that water falls from the edge of the roof to the ground when the rain falls. They also dig a small hole around the tent where rainwater flows, but in summer and spring they place poles around the tent to keep the roof flat and smooth. In summer, the tent has walls only in the part where the furniture and bedding are. In winter and end of autumn, the tents covered with lattice on all sides and the only way in and out is by a wide side of the tent. A “ni chi” or “chig” is a mat made from a woman inserted inside the lower part of the tent to protect the tent from outside, rain and cold. It is important to know that most of living, grocery, bedding and clothing items and other items put in jugs, skirts, dormitories or luggage and stacked along regular tents.
Summary of three important Iran nomads tribes
From ancient times to these day, human beings have chosen different ways of life. Some chose to settle down and set up houses in cities or villages, and some preferred to live in the foothills of the mountains and plains. Iran nomads who have tied their lives to nature and seek their sustenance in its loving arms.
Iran nomads have been living in winter and summer residences for many years, and livestock and handicrafts are the occupation of most of them. Iran nomads, these brave and free people are scattered everywhere in Iran, from northwestern Iran to the foothills of Zagros Mountains, from the central lands to the west, proud and beautiful. But perhaps few people are aware of the fact that tribal life is common in northeastern Iran, Greater Khorasan. Iran nomads who have settled in the northeastern provinces of Iran in the foothills of the scattered mountains of this region are mainly Kurds of Khorasan. Their summers are mostly in the heights of South and North Khorasan, Golestan and Semnan, and they live in the winter plains of South Khorasan, Razavi, North and Golestan provinces in cities such as Quchan, Sabzevar, Sarakhs, along the Atrak River, etc. In the following, we will just take a look at three Iran nomad tribes briefly in short.
Go to Fars province to see the Qashqai tribe
In the Qashqai tribe, there is a combination of tribes with Lor, Kurdish, Arab and Turkish roots, and although their main center of life is in Fars province, some of them are in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Khuzestan (Haftkal), Isfahan and… They live together. This tribe is one of the most populous tribes in Iran and its people speak the sweet Qashqai Turkish language. Seeing the life of these Iran nomads and getting to know their culture and customs is a good and heartwarming experience, they are happy people who care about music and drinking a lot of tea and smoking hookah is one of their regular habits.
Go to Azerbaijan to see the Shahsavan tribe
The Shahsavan tribe live in parts of northwestern Iran, especially in the Moghan, Uromia and Ardabil plains. What distinguishes the Shahsavan tribe from other Iranian nomads tribes is their way of life, their special cultural features, and especially their hemisphere pavilions. They live in pavilions and ridges, and it can be said that the pavilion is one of the characteristics of Shahsavan, which shows its shape in the form of a hemispherical tent. “Koomeh” is also a corridor-shaped tent and is usually smaller in size than the pavilion. Today, Shahsavan tribes are scattered not only in Iran but also in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kashmir. To make their handicrafts, Shahsavanis use animal products such as wool to create works that show their pure art and taste and life in the heart of pristine nature and pleasant climate.
Go to southwestern Iran to see the Bakhtiari nomads
Bakhtiari, this Iran nomads live in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Kohgoluyeh, Boyer Ahmad and Isfahan and speak Bakhtiari dialect which is one of the Lori dialects. Although many of these tribes have settled together for many years, some of them still have not forgotten the ancient tradition of migration and spend the winter in the plains of eastern Khuzestan and summer in the west of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.
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What we learn from Iran nomads?
If you experience Iran nomads lifestyle, and live with them for a while, you will understand how meaningful their life is. Iranian nomads are so hardworking people who never give up. It does not matter what is their gender or age. Every one has their own responsibilities even women and children. Cooperation and respect are two main features of Iran nomadic lifestyle.
1- In the queue | Even animals follow the queue
Livestock is the main source of income for Iran nomads and most of their time and work is spent in this regard.
2- From nature to nature
Livestock that feed on mountain pastures eventually will become the food of another group in the wild. The life cycle of this species is formed and continues.
3- This playful animal
The shepherd is returning this playful animal to the herd. An effort that creates an interesting image.
4- Friendship with animals
Extremely interesting images of sheep and goats that seem like they challenged these young boy to wrestle and are showing their strength.
5- In the line
Sheep that are lined up in a certain order and are waiting for their turn.
6- It looks like she has earrings on her ear
7- We are kind to animals
Iran nomads are far from the cruelty that some urban people inflict on animals. They treat their animals, the creations of great God, with kindness and teach to their children as well.
8- Children the partner of work and effort
Iran nomadic life is such that children from an early age help their parents in work and life management so that in the future they can cope with a life full of nomadic challenges and efforts.