TEHRAN – Traditional skills of weaving the Chuqa, the black and white wool cloak used by Bakhtiari men, was registered on Iran’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization announced on Tuesday.

“The hand-woven garment is an important part of nomad culture, which should be preserved as a cultural heritage,” the director of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization's office in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province, Bahman Asgari Savadjani told the Persian service of IRNA.

Chuqa is sleeveless but has wide openings for the arms. The costume distinguishes Bakhtiari men from Lurs and Kurds.

It is only used by Bakhtiari men who live in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Khuzestan and western Isfahan provinces.

----- A dress for all seasons!

The Chuqa is woven on a horizontal loom by women and it takes about 20 days to be completed. The quality of the Chuqa varies according to the material used for its weaving; it also indicates the status of men within their tribes.

Men wear the knee-length cloak cloth every season of the year; in cold and windy weather they fix the Chuqa with a shawl on the waist and roll up the bottom part of the Chuqa during mountain climbing.

-------- All about Chuqa pattern!

All Chuqas have similar patterns with white and black stripes. Some believe that these patterns are inspired by the Chogha Zanbil Ziggurats, an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province.

Others believe that it is inspired by the battlements of Persepolis, which reminds the mountains and valleys. Such battlements are also seen on the crowns of Iranian kings.

It is also said that the name of Chuqa originates from choqa, which means ´heel´ due to the mountainous nature of the region, and the black and white color is interpreted as ´the heights are always lightened and the valleys are dark.´

PHOTO: A group of Bakhtairi men in Chuqa pose for a photo in an undated image (Photo by: Jaber Ahmadi)
(Edited by: David Gestoso)


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