Ethnographic Analyses on Funeral Practices of Ezidis in Batman

Ezidi religion is fascinating regarding subjects such as the creation of the universe and afterlife. Life after death, reincarnation in other words, constitutes one of its pillars. Accordingly, it is believed that the dead ones would come to Earth again in another body after death (called as libas or kiras guherîn which means to change dress/shirt). For these reason, funeral practices are based on the cosmic return which displays the drama of death and rebirth. Ezidism, which is an orally transmitted religion, is the subject of national and international research studies based especially on historical documents that include very limited information of Ezidi traditions such as funeral rituals and burial practices. This study presents information about Ezidi funeral practices in accordance with the fieldwork undertaken in the Ezidi villages of Beşiri (Batman) during the period of 2013-2014. It analyzes how the belief of divine life which renews itself regularly and which could be observed in all cases of social life, configures the basic elements of that practices. Also, it explains that the concept of life after death as a universal phenomenon which today survives in Ezidi belief is fed by the remains of ancient Mesopotamian cultures such as Assyrian and Babylonian that have continued until the present times