„ლიფანალისა“ და „ქუნარეშის“ ტრადიცია სვანეთში

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Date
2024-02-14
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ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტის გამომცემლობა
Abstract
One ancient Georgian ritual cycle still practiced in Svaneti is called “Lipanal” in Upper Svaneti, and “Kunareshi” in Lower Svaneti. Both are identical in content, with a slight difference in dates. This ritual is syncretic and traces the intersection of different historical eras and religions. The ritual was described by many researchers and travellers of the second half of the nineteenth century. The most important are the works of Vera Bardavelidze, who analyses the ritual. The ritual is cyclical, annual and is performed at the beginning of the year. It is also practiced by the Svans of the Dali Valley and Svan families living in different parts of Georgia. In the recent past, folk rituals of remembrance of the spirits were performed in all parts of Georgia. It is still partially practiced, but the cycle is almost lost and the ritual lasts one day. The content of the ritual is the following: the door between the divine and mundane worlds opens and the spirits of the deceased visit their families. The families follow a number of rules, hosting the spirits and at the end of the ritual they depart solemnly. Every detail of the ritual is well outlined and all family members are involved in it. Of course, almost all agrarian peoples are familiar with such kind of rituals which are mainly connected to harvesting. In the Catholic world, it is celebrated in autumn, namely on 2 November, and is connected to the church calendar. The ritual is multi-component, and each of them contains fragments of archaic elements, as well as remnants of beliefs and ideas from the ancient era. The greatest part of course is based on the worldview formed through Christian teachings, and this is especially transparent in the texts of prayers recited in those days. The paper discusses the historical dynamics of the ritual, its distribution area, modern form and parallels with the similar rituals in the rest of the world.
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თბილისის უნივერსიტეტის დაარსებისადმი მიძღვნილი სამეცნიერო კონფერენცია. თსუ 106, თეზისები, 2024, გვ.: 40-42 / Scientific conference dedicated to the foundation of Tbilisi University. TSU 106, Abstracts, 2024, pp.: 40-42