The political symbolism of the Pshav NE Georgian highland midsummer festival'

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The political symbolism of the Pshav (NE Georgian
highland) mid-summer festival.

• Kevin Tuite
• Université de Montréal
• Chicago Conf on Caucasia 2002

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Georgian provinces
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Northeast Georgian highlands
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GOGOLAURTA 15 July 2001

• Kmodis Gori

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Ringing bell in sazare of lower shrine
(Turmanaulta)
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Tavqevisberi Pilipe Baghiauri with drosha
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Perquli (mens round dance)
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Tavqevisberi leads people to top of Kmodis gori
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Bell-tower atop Kmodis gori
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Pshavis Aragvi seen from Kmodis gori
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Blessing ram with candle before sacrifice
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Auxiliary Qevisberi Goderdzi Kucashvili
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Sacrifice held off ground (for purification of
qevisberi)
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Blood mixed with wine for use in purification
ritual.
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Confirmation of Goderdzi Kucashvili as
qevisberi (9th sacrifice, 2000)
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Boys presentation at Culis gasarevi koshki
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Womens and girls presentation
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Anointing of icons with blood
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Putting on headband before taking up drosha
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Dancing perquli on arrival at lower shrine
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Leaning drosha toward bell-tower
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Carving meat inside qevisberebis cabin
(sadarbazo)
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• LASHARIS JVARI
• Summer 2000, 2001

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Damastes Xati (by confluence of Aragvi
Matur-qevis Cqali)
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Pilipe Baghiauri asked to offer sacrifice before
restoration work begins at Lasharis Jvari, 25
June 2000
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The qevisberi speaks with Erakle Gogolauri and
the chief of the construction team
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Softening bees wax for candles
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At Lasharis Jvari, the blood of the sacrifice
must spill into a special pit by the shrine.
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Lighting candles at the sasantle of Lasharis Jvari
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Chain used by Queen Tamar to bind blacksmith
Misria (Jalabauri), founder of Misriaant-kari
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Erakle Gogolauri, organizer of restoration
project
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Lasharoba, 17 July 2000. Dedication of
newly-restored beer-storage hut (salude).
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Medieval cross and other objects found during
restoration of salude.
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Qevisberi Beglar Dzebniauri and assistant Irakli
bearing banners of Lasharis Jvari
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Traditional banner (drosha)
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New banner made for Lasharis Jvari
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Qevisberi Beglar (Lasha) Dzebniauri
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Man in traditional choxa presenting sacrifice at
Lasharis Jvari.
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Lasharoba, 16 July 2001
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Dzebniauri asperses restored bell-tower with
blood of sacrificed lamb.
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Ongoing restoration of chief-priests council room
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E. Gogolauri and workers at oath-taking stone
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Qeviseri Beglar Dzebniauri with banners
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The medieval cross discovered in 2000, now
restored
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Guest and qevisberi wearing traditional choxa,
during offering of ibex horns to shrine.
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Crossing the Cacadis-cqali on route to
Tamar-Ghele, 17 July 2001
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Sakvirao
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Newly-restored church (built 1910) at Tamar-Ghele
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Large bell-tower behind new roof on church
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Guram, grandson of Bichuri Badrishvili, who
donated new church roof at Tamar-Ghele
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Erakle Gogolauri and xridoli (martial arts)
instructor Nukri Mchedlishvili in traditional
costume
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Beads left as offering at Tamar-Ghele
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Worshipers face sazare as qevisberi Beglar
Dzebniauri rings bells.
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Qevisberi prays before sasantle (candle-altar)
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Guram being toasted (mother Tekle behind)
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Gagimarjot!