Send message to Author

Paper short abstract

Among the Alevi Zazas of Dersim (Central Anatolia), al-Khidr (Hızır) is revered as a divine figure whose essence is bound to water. Local springs, rivers, and sacred lakes embody his presence, serving as sites of pilgrimage and ritual.

Paper long abstract

In the religious worldview of the Alevi Zazas of Dersim (Central Anatolia), al-Khidr occupies a unique position as a divine figure whose presence permeates daily life, ritual practice, and natural landscapes. While sharing features with the universal Muslim al-Khidr, the Zaza tradition emphasizes his deep association with water as the source of life, renewal, and sacred power. Khidr is invoked in blessings, oaths, and amulets, reflecting his omnipresence and protective role. Yet it is his connection with rivers, springs, and lakes that most clearly reveals his liminal character: sacred sites such as Gola Çeto, located at the confluence of the Munzur and Pülümür rivers, or the Munzur springs (Munzur Baba Ziyareti), are central places of pilgrimage where Khidr’s presence sanctifies the waters and surrounding nature. Myths and legends describe Khidr’s meetings with other divine or semi-divine figures at watery thresholds, echoing the Qur’anic motif of the “junction of the two seas.” In the Alevi Zaza cosmology, al-Khidr embodies both the vitality of the natural world and the mediating force between human communities and the divine. His cult demonstrates how the universal figure of al-Khidr was localized within Dersim’s sacred landscape, acquiring distinct features through his enduring bond with water and nature. By tracing relevant narratives, the paper argues that nature is not a passive backdrop but an active partner in the sacralization of space. Saints and natural loci together generate a common sacred landscape, sustaining memory and cultural continuity.