The holy places of Ferghana. Ogudin V.L.

The monograph “Holy Places of Ferghana” is devoted to the natural objects of worship, which remain today in the everyday life of the population of the Ferghana basin (Central Asia). Holy places are an integral part of popular Islam, consisting of ethnic and regional customs hidden under the shell of religion outside the official doctrine and practice. The ancient homesterly cults of nature and ancestors under the influence of Islam were transformed into the cult of Muslim saints. Together, the holy places are a supporting network of traditional religious culture with a pronounced territorial hierarchy of shrines, possessing a number of resolving functions: consolidating, mediator, communicative, protective, medical and environmental. The first, information, part of the monograph included the generalization of information obtained from differently scientific sources and field research of the author conducted in 70-90. last century. The second part is the catalog of natural worship of Ferghana, including materials systematized for each cult object. The third part-illustration to the catalog containing schemes, photographs, as well as drawing numerous rock images.