Ajvatovica
Ajvatovica is the largest Islamic traditional, religious and cultural event in Europe. It is located near Prusac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was named after Ajvaz-dedo (Grandfather Ajvaz), a pious Muslim working to enlighten the population and achieve progress in the area.
History of the Holy Site of Ajvatovica
Ajvaz-dedo was a Sufi dervish who arrived in Akhisar (known today as Prusac, Bosnia and Herzegovina) with the conquering Ottoman armies in 1463.[1]
The story of the rock dividing dates back to the legend of Ajvaz-dedo, an elderly man who prayed for water during a long period of drought that threatened the small mountain hamlet of Prusac in 1510, during Ottoman rule.[citation needed] However, Ajvaz Dede found a powerful spring of water near the village on the mountain Šuljaga.[2] The spring had been shut off by a rock 74 meters long and 30 meters wide, which obstructed the construction of a running water system. Ajvaz-dedo spent 40 days beseeching Allah to split the rock.[3] On the fortieth morning, following his prayers, Ajvaz Dede dreamt that two white rams collided and split the rock. When he awoke, he saw the rock split in half. Wooden pipes were placed along the newly formed canyon to take water into Prusac. Seeing it as a sign of God's miracle and blessing, people began going on pilgrimages to the place where the rock had split.
In 1947, (during the early years of communist Yugoslavia) thirteen people were convicted by the district court in Travnik for "participating in the unauthorized procession on the occasion of the religious holiday Ajvatovica, opposing state officials and violating the ban on flying religious flags."[4] The thirteen individuals were also accused of assaulting two policemen who tried to break up the procession and threatening them with knives while on horseback. Following this incident, maintenance of the religious site was forbidden by the communist Yugoslav government until the tradition was renewed in June 1990.[5][6] There are annual celebrations in Prusac to commemorate the event.[7] It has become a large tourist and religious attraction called the "Days of Ajvatovica". The 500th anniversary of the event was commemorated in June 2010.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Održana Ajvatovica, najveći muslimanski skup u Evropi". Blic. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Ajvatovica – molitva u tradiciji". Novo vrijeme. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "U Pruscu održana 502 Ajvatovica". Al Jazeera Balkans. 24 June 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Pilgrimage and Sacred Places in Southeast Europe". Google Books. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Hiljade vjernika u Pruscu, Ajvatovica je najveće dovište muslimana u Evropi". Radio Sarajevo. 22 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "504. Ajvatovica pod motom "Ususret ramazanu dovom za domovinu i zavičaj"". Vijesti. 5 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Svečano otvorena 504. Ajvatovica". Klix. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Donji Vakuf: Promovisana poštanska marka povodom 500 godina Ajvatovice". 24 sata. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Otvaranje 500. "Ajvatovice"". Klix. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
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