Baku, May 14, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan has an ethnically diverse population, with representatives of over 100 ethnicities living in the country.

Territorial unity, similar socio-economic, geographical and historical conditions led to the formation of common features of life and culture, customs and traditions of Azerbaijanis and small peoples.

In Azerbaijan, representatives of all nationalities, small peoples, ethnic minorities and ethnic groups live together in harmony, in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect.

The Tats, Talyshs, Kurds, Mountain Jews belonging to the Iranian language group of the Indo-European language family, the Lezgins, Avars, Udis, Tsakhurs, belonging to the Avar-Ando-Tsez subgroup of the Eastern Caucasus group ( Dagestan) of the Caucasian language family, the peoples of the “Shahdag group” (Khinalig, Budug, Kryz), Ingiloys belonging to the Kartvelian group of the Caucasian language family and speaking an Ingiloy dialect of the Georgian language, live here.

The common and special features of the traditional life and culture of the peoples living in Azerbaijan are closely intertwined and complement each other. At the same time, each people, regardless of the number of its representatives, has a specific and local culture.

Avars mainly live in Balakan and Zagatala districts of Azerbaijan. According to a number of authors, the “Didoys” mentioned in the works of the famous Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher Gaius Plinius were the ancestors of the modern Avars.

The Avars came to Azerbaijan from Dagestan in the 15th-17th centuries. They speak the Ansukh dialect of the Avar language. They are Muslims. The traditional occupations of the Avars are agriculture, animal husbandry and crafts.

The Avar language, mainly spoken in the territory of the Zagatala and Balakan districts, also belongs to the Avar-Ando-Didoy subgroup of the Dagestan language group of the North Caucasus language family.

The Avars have not forgotten their ancient craft and have carefully preserved the traditions of armoury, boilermaking, saddlery and carpet weaving.

Avars living in Azerbaijan have preserved their language, customs and traditions to the present day. The Avar language, which is attributed to the Nakh-Dagestan group of Caucasian languages, is subdivided into a large number of dialects and sub-dialects. Avars living in Azerbaijan speak the Zagatala dialect.

The Avar people have rich centuries-old customs and traditions. They have unprecedented folklore, music and decorative craftsmanship. And this uniqueness is displayed most vividly in public festivities.

The common Caucasian features of the national costume are also characteristic of the Avars. The headgear of the Avar women is large, they wear a silver bow, as well as head decorations with silver and gold coins hanging from them. While the men walked in a Caucasian charkazi coat and carried weapons with delicate inscriptions on them. The traditional male costume of the Avars once consisted of a high-collared shirt, trousers, a Caucasian coat, a headgear, a fur coat, a conical or semi-conical cap. secular sheepskin, in winter – high leather or skin boots, and in summer – a pair of soft shoes or sandals. Until the 1930s, Avar women’s clothing consisted of a long, straight, shirt-like kunta (dress), khabat (tight, straight, long pants), garakhuni (apron), and ‘a vest. Over their clothing, Avar women wore a patterned belt made of fabric, leather or metal.

Today, favorable conditions have been created to maintain and develop the ethnic identity of the Avars, like any other people of Azerbaijan.