#êp

[ezidxan]

Reconstruction of Êzîdî temples that were destroyed by Daesh (ISIS) in Bashiqa and Bahzan (via ÊzîdîPress)

[ezidxan]

by Êzîdî artist Ahmet Güneşteki̇n in honor of Cejna Êzîd holiday.

Today Êzîdîs world wide celebrate one of their most important holidays: the Cejna Êzîd or Îda Êzîd holiday in honor of God and as marking of the approaching winter solstice. The Cejna Êzîd is the highlight of the past 3 weeks of fasting in which Êzîdîs celebrate the end of short days, and reflect on the origins of their religion and their people.

With the start of the winter solstice the days are getting longer, and so do the hours of sunshine. The sun is considered holy in the Êzîdî belief and as most obvious symbol of God as there would be no life without the sun. In a way the Cejna Êzîd can also be considered as a holiday of gratitude.

Êzîdîs gather together in their sacred homeland at the local pilgrimage sites and celebrate together. As the first sun rays hit the earth, they face the sun and greet the sunlight with a prayer. Different ceremonies are held in the central religious site Lalish: religious hymns are recited by Qewals and holy lights are lit in the whole temple to symbolize the light of the sun. The Cejna Êzîd is a holiday of gathering and reconciliation. The holiday is however clouded as in the past years by the ongoing genocide.