Shabnam Rahimzadeh

Bukan — The name “Bride of the Rain” echoes once again in the children’s songs of Eastern Kurdistan during seasons of drought and scarcity. Though it had faded in recent years, it was revived this year in several Kurdish cities, reaffirming the Kurdish people’s deep bond with nature and fertility.

The ritual of the “Bride of the Rain” is one of the oldest Kurdish traditions linked to rainmaking. It is performed during cold, dry days, drawing its roots from ancient Kurdish beliefs connected to nature. In this folkloric ceremony, girls or children decorate a doll and parade it through the alleys and streets.

Some researchers view this tradition as a symbolic glorification of the goddess of water, where the woman represents the mediator of fertility and life—reflecting her central place in the natural cycle. The practice traces back to ancient Kurdish mythology, long before the emergence of monotheistic religions.

The “Bride of the Rain” doll is said to be made of wood and dressed in traditional Kurdish attire by one of the mothers or grandmothers in the community. In some areas, the doll’s outfit is adorned with local flowers or herbs, and her head is veiled with tulle. Groups of children—sometimes only girls—carry the “Bride of the Rain” from house to house, singing folk chants that call for rain as they knock on doors.

In the past, when the “Bride of the Rain” procession passed by, the oldest woman in each household would sprinkle water, flour, or white clay along its path as a symbol of fertility and blessing. In homes that hosted the doll, women would pour water over it or pin a brooch to its chest, offering symbolic gifts to the accompanying children such as eggs, sweets, raisins, walnuts, bread, or coins.

These offerings varied by region, each holding a unique meaning of prosperity. According to local folklore, the foods given to the “Bride of the Rain” are considered blessed and are distributed equally among the participants.

After the children finish their tour carrying the doll through the alleys, they conclude the ritual by taking it to a sacred place. There, a girl known as “Parê Lajer” or “Kwirê Kaş” (the eldest girl) places it upon a symbolic base. In some regions, the doll is carried to a spring and left there as a plea for rain. The ceremony ends with collective prayer and supplication.

This ancient Kurdish tradition—which was nominated in 2014 for inclusion on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list—had declined in recent decades, especially among children in the Mukriyan region. Yet, thanks to the efforts of cultural activists, it has been revived this year in villages and towns such as Mahabad, Bukan, Naqadeh, and Sardasht. The Nishtiman Literary Association in Bukan played a leading role in organizing these events.

The “Bride of the Rain” ritual is practiced widely across Eastern Kurdistan—in Hawraman, Kermashan, Sanandaj, Ilam, Qorveh, and Urmia—as well as in Northern Kurdistan, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Though the details vary from place to place, the ritual’s symbolism and purpose remain unified among the Kurdish people—a living expression of their enduring harmony with nature, fertility, and hope