GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED PILGRIMAGE TO TURKMEN SHRINES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 001578

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRF SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED PILGRIMAGE TO TURKMEN SHRINES

REFS: A) ASHGABAT 1527; B) ASHGABAT 1569

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1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Due to alleged concerns about the
spread of the H1N1 virus, the Turkmen government
decided to skip sending pilgrims to the Hajj ahead of
Eid al Adha (Gurban Bayram) holiday, for the first
time since 1993 (Ref A). Instead, the government
organized an internal pilgrimage of a group of
believers to Turkmen shrines. During an 18-day
period, the pilgrims visited 38 shrines in all five
provinces of the country. Local mass media provided
daily coverage of the event. Although the authorities
organized the internal pilgrimage because of swine flu
concerns, locals believe that it will become an annual
event, in addition to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. END
SUMMARY


3. (SBU) On November 6, President Berdimuhamedov
issued a decree on the celebration of Gurban
Bayramy (Eid al Adha),a major Muslim holiday. In
accordance with the decree, November 28 - December
1 were designated as non-work days. Gurban
Bayramy is usually preceded by the Hajj pilgrimage
to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. In past years, the
Turkmen government has annually sent around 180
pilgrims (one plane load) to Mecca on a government-
sponsored trip. This year, however, due to Turkmen
government concerns about H1N1 virus, the
government decided not to send Turkmen pilgrims to
Hajj. In addition, the government did not provide
aircraft for charter flights to Mecca for self-
paying pilgrims as it had in the past. Instead,
the government organized a pilgrimage to holy
shrines in Turkmenistan. A group of believers,
consisting of elderly men and women, conducted
zyyarat ("pilgrimage" in Turkmen) and visited 38
shrines in all five provinces of the country from
November 11 to 29. Upon Presidential order, the
State Council on Religious Affairs, together with
offices of provincial governors and Ashgabat
municipal authorities, organized the pilgrimage and
provided necessary logistical arrangements.

DASHOGUZ PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE


4. (SBU) The pilgrimage started in Dashoguz
province by visiting the mausoleum of Nejmeddin
Kubra, an ancient memorial complex "Uch Yuz
Altmysh" (360 Saints),Ibrahim Edhem, Ashyk Aydyn
Pir, Mahmyt Zamahshary, Ismamyt ata, and Bilal baba
shrines. While in Dashoguz, the pilgrims also
visited architectural monuments: mausoleum of
Kutlug-Timur, Tyurabek-hanum, Tekesh, Il-Arslan,
Seyit Ahmet, and Kyrk molla fortress. From
Dashoguz, pilgrims flew to Balkan province.

BALKAN PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE


5. (SBU) In Balkan province, pilgrims visited
Gyozli ata, Aksynly mama shrines, Kaaba-depe
madrasa, Ancient Dehistan historical complex also
known as Mashat-Misserian, Shibli baba and Paraw
bibi shrines, and prayed namaz prayer in Juma
mosque. They visited the madrasa where sheikh Ali
Ibn Sukkari used to teach and the Shir-Kabir mosque
also known as Mashat mausoleum. Pilgrims also
visited Serdar town where currently over 20 new
social and cultural facilities are being
constructed. From Serdar, pilgrims traveled to
Mary province.

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MARY PROVINCE PILGIMAGE


6. (SBU) In Mary province, pilgrims visited
Gurbanguly haji mosque named after President
Berdimuhamedov. The mosque opened in 2007. While
in Mary, pilgrims held zyyarat to Sahy baba shrine,
visited "Yeke gowak" historical archaelogical
monument, Talhatan baba, Ojarly baba, Hoja Yusup
Hamedany, Bureyde baba shrines, Soltan Sanjar
mausoleum, "Ancient Merw" historical-cultural
national park, and "Margush" complex of
archaelogical memorials. The pilgrimage then
continued to Lebap province.

LEBAP PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE


7. (SBU) In Lebap province, the group visited
Gaynar baba shrine, made an excursion to Koyten-dag
national park, visited Kyrk gyz shrine and the
Dinosaur plateau near Hojaypil village. The
pilgrims also visited Astana baba, Idris baba, Daya
hatyn, Abu Muslim shrines and read namaz prayer in
Abu Yusup mosque in Turkmenabat, the administrative
center of Lebap province. From Lebap, pilgrims
proceeded to Ahal province.

AHAL PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE


8. (SBU) In Ahal province, pilgrims visited Saragt
baba, Myane baba, Myalik baba, Gyz bibi shrines,
the Seyitjemaleddin complex of historical monuments
and Islam Nury mosque in Annau. They also made an
excursion to Nisa state historical-cultural
national park and Geokdepe fortress. On the final
day of their pilgrimage in Ahal province, the group
participated in the ohening ceremony of the newly
reconstructed Archman and Yyly Suw recreational
sanatorium complex. President Berdimuhamedov
attended the opening ceremony of the sanatoriums
and hosted the first presidential sadaka
(ceremonial meal) in honor of Gurban bayramy.
During the pilgrimage, sadaka dinners were
organized in all five provinces for HEALTH of
President Berdimuhamedov who had made the
pilgrimage possible.

BACKGROUND


9. (SBU) Gurban bayramy is ONE of the popular
national holidays in Turkmenistan (Ref B). Every
Turkmen family that can afford to prepare a
sacrificial meal is supposed to cook a meal and
invite relatives, friends and neighbors to share a
holiday meal. Youth is usually entertained by
music, dances and swinging on large swings set in
every community. It is believed that by swinging
on swings, ONE atones his/her sins. Gurban bayramy
dinner invitees are supposed to have a meal and say
"Kabul bolsun" (May Allah accept your sacrifice).
It is believed that to solicit the All Mighty's
blessings for the next year, ONE has to visit seven
houses and share in sacrificial meals at each.
Turkmens also celebrated Gurban bayramy during the
Soviet period, although at that time the government
did not provide days off for celebrating the
holiday.


10. (SBU) COMMENT: This year was the first time
that the government organized a pilgrimage to local
shrines. The entire pilgrimage in Turkmenistan
was covered prominently by local mass media.
According to some locals, the pilgrimage to

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local shrines might turn into an annual event, in
addition to Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Still, no claims were made that the local
pilgrimage was the spiritual equivalent of the
Hajj, and popular demand for the Hajj in the future
will most likely be as strong as ever, once HEALTH
concerns are no longer a factor. END COMMENT.

ECKSTROM