The Avar call themselves Maharulal (Avar: магӀарулал). The Avar name literally means 'mountaineers'.
Among the various Avar groups, there's a lot of witty humor, jesting, "razzing one another," sporty competitiveness. At times, communication requires code-switching to Russian, Kumyk or Azerbaijani. Most Avar are multi-lingual. Mountain survival requires many tools, and languages are an Avar "multi-tool". The 1991 international border between Russia's Dagestan & Azerbaijan has solidified physical separations, but it has not dampened social or cultural affinities and kinship identity. The Avar kinship nation existed long before Russia was Russia or Azerbaijan was Azerbaijan. See the map and the attached .pdf profile.
One of the most populous kinship groups in Dagestan, the Avar in Azerbaijan are a small-population 'minority group', specifically known as Zaqatal Avar, named for the city Zakatala (along the Tala River). The Zaqatal district and the Balakan district have both Avar-majority villages and also mixed villages where Avar live alongside other Dagestani kinship groups & also Azerbaijanis.
The Avar homeland of Avaria was historically always within Dagestan and Azerbaijan. Lowland and mountain Avar villages are speckled throughout the central and southern highlands of Dagestan and into the southern Caucasus lowlands of northwestern Azerbaijan (bordering Georgia and Russia's Dagestan). Caucasus mountainous geography has caused dozens of village speech dialects.
The Avar have a refined cultural heritage, reflected in sophisticated traditional dress, musical forms, instruments, and dance. Their formal national attire features intricate designs and is made from local materials. They celebrate various folk festivals that showcase their music, dance, and traditions.
The majority of Avar are Sunni Muslims, but religious beliefs carry remnant influences from long-standing local traditions and historic Sufism.
Economic viability is a great physical need for all village districts of northwest Azerbaijan. The village communities don't easily benefit from the Caspian Oil industry centered in Baku.
Pray for Dagestanis and Azerbaijanis who follow Jesus within and near Zaqatala and Balakan district.
If any Avar identify as "Avar" among the community of Christ-followers, it's not communicated widely. Common to most Dagestani nations, when Avar believers are ready to "be known as Avar" they will let themselves be known when safety of community trust is well and truly established.
Pray for servants of Christ to function with honorable humility, to enter these villages and family networks through relationships at the speed of trust, and to be willing to allow people to meet Jesus, before imposing religious forms that invoke Russian or foreign cultural identities.
Scripture Prayers for the Avar, Zaqatala in Azerbaijan.
| Profile Source: NCRP |
| Other PDF Profile |
