Balochi Customs in Baluchistan Iran

Nowruz in Sistan Baluchistan

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is celebrated with the beginning of spring in Iran. It has been celebrated for at least 3000 years and is deeply rooted in the traditions of Zoroastrian belief. The celebration of the New Year in Sistan va Baluchistan is started from the last five days of the year. From the ancient times in Zoroastrians era, Iranians believe that, every 12 months had 30 days throughout the year. Therefore, 5 extra days remained at the end of the year. They named these days Panjak which means "5 days" in Persian. People of Sistan Baluchistan hold some special ceremony in Khajeh Mountain during Panjak days. In the past, the ceremony was celebrated extensively, including stoning and lighting fire; however, today it is only celebrated with joy and sword dancing. They believe that Khajeh Mountain was the place of appearing Saoshyant, which refers to someone who will make the existence brilliant in the Zoroastrian religion. The term literally means one who brings benefit.

Eid al-Fitr in Sistan Baluchistan

Eid al-Adha in Sistan Baluchistan

Ramadan Rituals in Sistan Baluchistan

Balochi Wedding Customs

Balochi Dance

Balochi dance is extremely beautiful and attractive. The most popular type of Balochi dances are Dochaap, Sechai, Lenki, Kupko, Gera and Lewa. Lewa is accompanied by Sorena and Dohol playing. In "Gera" people hold each other’s shoulders and move in circles while singing folk songs.

Dochaap Dance

The most popular type of Balochi dance is known as Dochaap. It’s a group dance performed by men or women who move in a circle and clap their hands. Dochaap dance starts with sorena playing. People who want to dance form a half circle or a full circle and perform Balochi rhythmic movements along with a special song that is played. Then the drummer hits the big drum and together with the one who plays the sorena and the one who plays the small drum, they perform a special rhythm. People clap their hands with the rhythm then they start spinning. When the rhythm becomes faster, the dance also becomes faster.

Muharram in Sistan Baluchistan

Camel Riding

Zar o Bad

Local Games

Chel Chel Game

Chol Game

Wood Dance

Kijzoor Game

Kabedi Game

Balochi Music

Balochi music has a unique style and sound, which is different from the music of other regions in Iran. It is a combination of local folkloric poems and songs. Many different types of musical instruments are played in Balochistan. The most popular and well-known musical instruments are sorena, dohol, tabl, qichak, tenburg, rebab, bancho, reed, koze and dinbok. These instruments are primarily used in folk music. Local Baloch songs are usually played during celebrations such as wedding ceremonies and holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and are directly related to the natural environment, lifestyle and religious beliefs of the people of the region. Balochi music is very attractive.

Balochi Dresses

Balochi dressing is simple but elegant and Balochi culture is evident in the traditional Balochi dress. Men wear turbans as the headwear in all of the tribes. In addition, they wear wide loose shalwar with a knee-long shirt called kameez. Baloch men wear an open collar shirt, a long robe, a white handkerchief and a thick belt. They wear special shoes with the tip turned upwards, which is called Kush. Baloch women's clothes are sewn with high-quality cotton and silk fabrics in various colors. To sew these clothes, the arts of needlework, Baluchi embroidery, Perivar embroidery and mirror embroidery are used and therefore they are very expensive. Mirror embroidery consists of small rounded mirror pieces embedded in the shirt, which makes it beautiful. Baloch women's clothing consists of pajamag, serik, teko and headscarf. Pajamag is a wide and pleated pant, Sarik is a kind of scarf made of a bigger tent, and Teku is a kind of chaddar. Chaddar is a long rectangular piece of clothing cascading down the shoulders which is used to cover the head by women.

History of the Baloch People

The name of the Baloch people was written for the first time in the inscriptions of the Achaemenid period and Greek books. In the Biston inscription of Dariush in the city of Kermanshah, a tribe named "Gedozia" is mentioned. This people, who also have the title of "Gedroch" and were also called "Mecca", are the same Baloch people. Archaeologists are of the opinion that the word Mecca is derived from Makran. Herodotus mentioned in his book that a people called "Maka" live on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Maka, which is the land of Makran, is considered one of the 14 provinces in Achaemenid Iran.

Balochi Language

The original Balochi language is an Indo-Iranian language of the Indo-European family. However, the modern Balochi language seems to influence Arabi, Persian, Sindhi, and other languages. The linguistic roots of Balochi people have been considered to be Pahlavi. Middle Pahlavi language is the root of Balochi, Kurdish and Gilaki languages in Iran, which are included in the category of Parthian Pahlavi languages. Due to the presence of Parthians and Kayans in the land of Sistan and their neighborhood with Baluchistan, the language of these people has Pahlavi roots. Balochi language is very similar to Kurdish language. Balochs understand the Kurdish language and many of their words are the same as Kurdish words.

Religion of Balochi

Most of the Balochi people are Muslims, and they follow Sunni Islam, although Shia also live among them.