Iraq: Iraqi Sabean rituals
Mandaean Sabean celebrated in Kurdistan region a day known as “Dahfa Yamana” through the establishment of the rite of baptism in the golden temple of their own, where on this day each year, members of the community go to a place to cleanse themselves of guilt and sin.
The Mandaean Sabean is a community in Kurdistan region celebrate a day known as “Dahfa Yamana” through establishing the rite of golden baptism in a temple of their own, where on this day each year, members of the community go to a place to get baptized in a special temple or in Tigris and Euphrates rivers to purify themselves from sins they committed in their lives and return as if they were born again.
Like other denominations, the Sabeans practice a set of rituals at the festival, where they wear turbans which a man puts on his head, while women put a towel and place beneath them branches of myrtle and olive plants as they are sacred to them.
It is noteworthy that the number of Mandaeans in Arbil is up to about 700 people who came from the south-central part of Iraq.