Ardeshir Salehpour’s “Bazbazak” was published. Bazbazak is the name of a theatrical puppet made for Bakhtiari girls.

IBNA: Bazbazak is a theatrical puppet made for Bakhtiari girls and is a little symbol of the great culture of this Iranian tribe.

The writer considers the Bakhtiaris as one of the most original race located in mid-Zagros and its environs living in the political district of Chahar Mahal & Bakhtiari, Khouzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, etc.

Explaining about the ritual aspects of this puppet playing, Salehpour says this puppet is among the first human ritual dolls and artifacts, in other words, the puppet is a means and container of posing human needs.

According to the writer, barren women of the tribe who dreamed of a child first made this doll and hanged it in sacred places especially the Imamzadeh and holy monuments and in a word expressed their wish in a symbolic way through making dolls.

The author then explains the beliefs of the Bakhtiari tribe about Bazbazak and says, “Bazbazak is a kind of small playing tool, a little puppet with performance functions and movements mainly made for playing, fun and entertainment. Children are the players of these puppets and the performance is usually accompanied with the music of Saz, Sorna, Korna and Dohol.”

Regarding the structure of these puppets, Salehpour adds, “The base and main element of Bazbazak puppet is the juncture of two cross-like pieces of wood in a square form joined with strings. In fact, it is the first performance of Bazbazak is conducted by a person standing with his arms wide open on his sides.

This researcher regards this as a primary form made by primitive men and he adds: “Cross and framework are simple and primary signs modeled on human figure which in ancient Iranian culture stands for Mehr and the Sun, while is Christianity is the sign of Jesus Christ. This is a primary and somehow eternal; symbol much prevalent among all ancient nations and civilizations. The sign is interpreted by the symbolists as the cycle of fire, and particularly the Sun.

According to him, most primitive and folkloric puppets have such a form and were based on this framework. Besides mythological and eternal aspects, the symbolic and humanistic aspects of these forms could be also found in many Bakhtiari artifacts and handicrafts.

Salehpour emphasizes that there are great and experienced women living in the tribe whose main duty is to conduct instructions, techniques and skills of manufacturing and designing patterns used in handicrafts, sewing and providing primary requirements of tribal life.

The book Bazbazak written by Ardeshir Salehpour was released in 2000 copies and price of 1800 Tomans by Aroun Publications. This book is written in 21 pages.

Id : 78931