AN EVALUATION ON "ALEWI OCAKS" IN THE REGION OF DIYARBAKIR

The aim of this article is to present Alevi "ocaks" of Diyarbakir region and the present-day situation of these "ocaks". In this direction, this paper gives an outline of findings about them and a general evaluation of Alevi "ocaks" in the region. In the historical course of Alewism and "ocaks" in the region, their domains from past to present day in the context of the relationship between the spiritual leader ("dede") and aspirant, and their current status and places they have been spread on as a result of migrations have been attempted to be enlightened by using written and oral sources. During our fieldwork, it is seen that spiritual leader ("dede") and aspirant communities which are members of Alevi "ocaks" in the region have been spread out by migrations over a large area of Anatolia. As a result, considering that determination of contemporary ritual conditions of spiritual leader ("dede") and aspirant communities in question situated in places outside of Diyarbakir region, only short evaluations of this matter are done and the names of locations where Alevis have been spread out are given. Within this scope, first of all, it is determined that the distribution of spiritual leader ("dede") and aspirant communities that are members of Alevi "ocaks" in the region as "Villages connected to the center and districts of Diyarbakir" and as "Places outside of Diyabakir Province's boundaries" formed as a result of migrations. Second of all, it is discussed if spiritual leader ("dede") and aspirant communities that are members of Alevi "ocaks" in the region have been kept old bonds after those migrations, and in this context how much they are able to preserve their traditional structures.