The word “Uraman” is believed by some to derive from “Huraman”, meaning “the abode of Ahura” or “the house of God.” Since ancient times, this region has been home to people who followed Zoroastrian beliefs and later Kurdish-Islamic beliefs. The culture, music, and language of its people reflect the region’s several-thousand-year-old history. Among the most famous and ancient ceremonies in Uraman are the “Wedding of Pir Shaliar”, the “Komsay” ceremony, and the “Stone Breaking” ritual.
The ceremony of the Wedding of Pir Shaliar takes place in midwinter, filled with light, rhythmic daf (frame drum) performances, and traditional rituals. The second major ceremony, Komsay, is held in mid-spring.
The Komsay ceremony is not merely a religious or devotional event, but it is a profound reflection of the culture, philosophy of life, livelihood, and social solidarity of the Uraman people. It is an ancient ritual passed down orally through generations, flowing from the heart of the Zagros Mountains into the living culture of today’s Kurdish society. In essence, Komsay is not just a seasonal event but a living symbol of the cultural, spiritual, and mystical identity of the Uraman region. Its most distinctive features are ritual dances and drum performances, harmonious movements performed not for entertainment, but as acts of worship and communion with God and nature.
These two ceremonies embody the deep connection of the Uraman people with mysticism, faith, history, and their indigenous culture. During these events, ritual dances, daf (drum) playing, chanting, traditional animal sacrifices for blessings, group singing, prayers, and the stone-breaking ceremony all create a vibrant setting that reveals the depth and richness of the region’s layered culture.
The word “Komsay” comes from two Kurdish roots: “Ko” meaning gathering or assembly and “Msay” meaning learning or teaching; thus, it signifies a “gathering for learning.”
Pir Shaliar is a legendary, mystical, and influential figure in Kurdish culture, whose memory is still honored among the people of Uraman. His real name was Seyyed Mostafa Pish-Allahyar, and he was a descendant of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS). According to local tradition, Pir Shaliar was a mystic who healed “Shah Bahar Khatoon,” the deaf and mute daughter of the king of Bukhara, through prayer.
It is said that the king of Bukhara had promised to marry his daughter to whoever could cure her. When the girl was brought near Uraman Takht, her hearing was miraculously restored, and as she approached Pir Shaliar’s home, they heard the roar of a demon falling from a furnace to the ground, dead. At that very moment, the girl began to speak. The king kept his promise and gave his daughter’s hand to Pir Shaliar. The people have since celebrated the “Wedding of Pir Shaliar” every year, believing the ceremony commemorates that very day.
Another legend recounts that while Pir Shaliar was praying at his father’s grave, Sheikh Gomar offered him a bowl of food (Dolma, a dish made with grape leaves) and asked for his blessing. Pir Shaliar then shared the food (among his guests and bowed in prostration toward the qibla, breaking off a small piece of the stone beneath him and giving it as a sacred token to Sheikh Gomar. By divine will, that piece of stone restored the blessing to Sheikh Gomar’s livestock.
Since then, every year on the Friday closest to mid-May, people reenact this event and ritual by breaking a small piece of the same stone. Interestingly, the stone still exists, and locals believe it can only be broken on that specific day, and despite centuries of this ritual, the stone has never diminished.
During these ceremonies, the sacrifice of sheep, the distribution of food offerings, and the collective dances of men and women symbolize unity and joy. The music of Uraman is based on the daf(drum), shamshal (a long Kurdish flute), and mystical chants.
The people of this area speak the Hawrami (Urami) language, one of the oldest branches of Kurdish, preserving many ancient and authentic Iranian words.