Iranian Journal Of Antheropology

Iranian Journal Of Antheropology

An analysis of Zār rite and its artistic form from the religious cosmology poin of view

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mehdi Aslemarz 1
Saeid Zavieh 2
Iraj Dadashi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Art Research, Iran University of Art, Tehran, Iran (Responsible author)
2 Associate Professor, Department of Art Research, Iran University of Art, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jasi.2026.2039523.1547
Abstract
To understand healing experiences in rituals such as the Zār, it is necessary to examine the worldview of their practitioners, a task best approached through the cosmological study of healing rites. In theological and anthropological research, the human subject—its needs and, in particular, the process of healing—has been extensively addressed. By contrast, art studies have largely overlooked the relationship between healing rituals and their artistic expressions. This article addresses this gap by examining the Zār rite, a widely practiced healing ritual known under different names across a broad geographical area extending from Central Asia to Africa and Iran. Drawing on the field of religious studies, the analysis employs Mircea Eliade’s perspective, which views the human being as fundamentally oriented toward the sacred and understands ritual, myth, and religion as key components in the formation of cosmological systems. Since myth and religion play a central role in shaping both cosmologies and rituals, they constitute essential analytical frameworks for this study. The research adopts a documentary and analytical methodology, reviewing a wide range of books, academic articles, and documentary materials related to the Zār rite. By integrating these interpretive approaches, the study seeks to offer a deeper understanding of the healing mechanisms and artistic forms embedded in Zār rituals.
Keywords
Healing Rituals Art
Mircea Eliade
Religious Cosmology
Zār Ritual
Subjects
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Iranian Journal Of Antheropology
Volume 22, Issue 40
September 2025
Pages 15-43