Sacred Springs and Waters in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Folk Culture

Water is considered a valuable element among most peoples and cultures,and polluting it is regarded as a sin.In Iran, Anahita was the goddess of water.This divine lady guarded all waters,and people worshipped her and offered sacrifices to her.The present study examines the springs and sacred waters in various regions of Chaharmahal Bakhtiari Province using a descriptive analytical approach and field interviews with elderly provincial narrators and local informants, aiming to articulate the beliefs and convictions associated with these sacred waters and springs.The findings show that, out of the thousands of seasonal and permanent springs flowing in the province,a number hold a special status for the locals;they are viewed with a sense of sanctity and are accompanied by specific beliefs. Among these are the Ab-Morad-Cholicheh Spring, Aga-Seyed-Khoyeh Spring, Khazar Spring(Haj-Khoder-Sar-Aga-Seyed), Hajat-Sar-Pir Spring, Avghar-Emam-Zadeh-Hamzeh-Ali Spring, Mola-Alikuh Spring, and Pir-Ghar-deh-Cheshme Spring.Additionally, people believe in the healing power of sacred waters, curing illnesses, swearing an oath on the spring water and making wishes from it, obtaining one’s desire by cooking ash(a traditional dish)and kači by the spring and distributing it among the people, preparing ash reshteh on Chahar Shab e Suri and pouring the entire soup into the spring, sacrificing a sheep and a rooster at the spring, determining the gender of a pregnant woman’s baby, drinking the water, bathing, and sprinkling spring water over a pregnant woman’s belly to aid conception, lighting a candle and placing herbs by the spring for a blessing these are among such beliefs.