The traces of alevi and bektashi culture in the folk songs of the âşik veysel

Abstract

This study aims to identify traces of Alawi-Bektashi culture, faith, and values in Asik Veysel's folk songs. Sivas is one of the most powerful cities that carry the bard tradition. The city of Sivas became famous for its nicknames such as "bards home" and "realm of lovers." One of the most famous folk bards who are raised in Sivas is Âsik Veysel. He was born in 1894, in a village called Sivrialan, Sarkisla. Thus, a long and narrow road journey started for Veysel as he was born in the Emlek region where Alawi-Bektashi culture is more valued. Many bards who have lived and raised in this region contributed to the development of Âsik Veysel. Veysel had respect for the thoughts, emotions, faith, and worldview of every individual. He emphasized nature, homeland, nation and unity, love, pain, agony, and religious and Sufistic subjects in his poems. We know that he mostly emphasized love, respect, tolerance, modesty, divine love and human love among others. He also mentioned these subjects in his songs. The most important reason for the fact that Âsik Veysel had a strong religious- Sufistic and mystic character is that he spent time with the spirit builder people who contributed to his spiritual world. Salman Baba, who founded Bektashi dervish convent in Mescid village, was his first teacher and valuable friend. We can say that Âsik Veysel was raised under the influence of the Alawi Society and Bektashi dervish convent. It is possible to see the traces of Alawi-Bektashi faith and values, as well as terms and symbols related to Alawi and Bektashi sufistic understanding in Âsik Veysel's folk songs and poems.