What is "lalish"

Lalish (, also called ) is a small mountain valley village situated in the Shekhan District of Dohuk Province in northern Iraq. It is the holiest temple in the Yezidi faith. The temple belongs to ancient times wherein many archaeologists and historians agree upon the fact that the temple was a part of Sumerian and other ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Later it became the location of the tomb of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, who is a central figure of the Yazidi faith. The village is above the town of Shekhan, which had the second largest population of Yazidi prior to the persecution of Yazidis by ISIL. The village is about thirty-six miles north-east of Mosul.

At least once in their lifetime, Yazidis are expected to make a six-day pilgrimage to Lalish to visit the tomb of Şêx Adî and other sacred places. These other sacred places are shrines dedicated to other holy beings. There are two sacred springs called Zamzam, which is in a cave below Sheikh Adi's sanctuary, and Kāniyā. Lalish is also the location of pirrā selāt (Ṣerāṭ Bridge) and a mountain called Mt. ʿArafāt which has sites significant in other faiths. Yazidis living in the region are also expected to make a yearly pilgrimage to attend the autumn seven-day Feast of the Assembly, which is celebrated from 23 Aylūl to 1 Tašrīn I.