"Akito" ancient cultural heritage, occupiers tried to smelt
Festival is one of the oldest calendars in history. Thousands of years after the Akito feast celebrated by Syriac and Assyrian people around the world, Syrians in al-Jazeera region are trying to re-develop their looted culture that the authorities have tried to eradicate it.
AHMAD SAMIR-JOMERD SHEIKO
QAMISHLO- According to historical sources, Akito, celebrated by Syriac and Assyrian, Chaldean, Babylonian, Acad, it is the oldest events and the celebration date back to 6768 years.
The importance of Akito
Akito Festival represents the cultural heritage of many peoples of the area, dating from thousands of years BC, celebrated by Syriac on April 1st of each year. In celebration the voice of music and the folkloric groups are majestic, as discovered in Iraq in the Sumerian, Acad, Assyrian and Babylonian periods, thus creating a deep historical, spiritual, cultural and philosophical depth in life of Syriac people.
This holiday is still legacy in which the beautiful shape of Akito is symbolized as a historic day and represents the renewal of the cycle of life in nature through the spring equinox.
The term Akito refers to the date of sowing and harvesting of barley.
Akito is the oldest recorded festival in the history of Near East and its earliest reference is in the middle of 6th millennium BC.
The ritual of Akito festival is twelve days begins on March 21
The Eid ritual lasts 12 days, starting from March 21, which is considered the day of spring equinox and lasts until April 1. The story of Gilgamesh reflects the ceremony that took place at that stage. In the first four days begin the preparation, cleaning, beautification and flowering of the places are done and sprayed with perfume for the festival.
On the 5th day of their rituals, a very large procession carrying a statue of Mar Dukh was brought out to bless him in the fight against the darkness gods, accompanied by the echoes that encouraged him to fight the darkness. Mardukh means the master of the world in Sumerian, Mar means master and dokh means the world.
On the 6th day, this statue is restored to its main center, which was present in Babylon. On the 7th and 8th day, celebrations are increased with songs of the triumph of good over evil and the victory of Mardukh over the darkness gods.
On the 9th and 10th day there was something new, as the king took part in the celebrations, and the priests organized some decrees to reawaken him.
On the 12th day, the day of the last celebration, where the god Mardukh married the gods of Sryantov, joy was spread through art and music, and all those who worked in the field of art were invited to the coronation of the king, where the festivities ended at the end of the 1st day of April.
Is Akito celebrated as it was previously celebrated?
The head of Syriac Cultural Association, Hanna Hanna in Qamishlo, said that they are working hard to restore the ancient customs associated with the celebration of Akito. Where the preparation of musical and folkloric and theatrical play embodies and the statue and the preparation of the celebration place and other rituals accompanying this feast
Hanna Hanna wished that Akito would be an occasion to enhance communication between groups and components. "Our area is multicultural, and the beautiful thing about it is the coexistence we share in our area, which is their policy of achieving our rights and freedom without any marginalization of anyone.
(H/S)
ANHA
