Carpet as a Cultural Element in the Symbolic Ritual of Carpet Washing (Qali-shuyan) in Mashhad Ardehal

In addition to a decorative role, the traditional (folk) arts of Iran have significant roles in the transmission of cultural tradition. In the meantime, carpets, as well-known Iranian underlay, manifest Iranian identity; however, their non-applicability has been less desired. Exploring the status of carpets in the ritual of Carpet Wshing (Qali Shouyan)in Mashhad Ardehal is the main aim of this article. In this research, an attempt is made to address the cultural function of carpets in a religious ceremony with Islamic Iranian roots. In the ritual of Qali Shouyan, the carpet is considered a symbol of a pure body and a holy coffin for Sultan Ali (a grandson of Prophet Mohammad). Thus, it has taken a significant distance from its role as anunderlay. As cultural elements and traditional products, carpets have physical agency in Kashan and provide a platform for the manifestation of meaning from an anthropological point of view. In other words, carpets are means of conveying meaning and play roles in documenting an identity. This research is qualitative, or to put it differently, developmental. The research method is descriptive and analytical, and the data are collected though library studies and the observation of relevant documents and images having taken a cultural, anthropological perspective. The questions posed in this study include: what results can be drawnfrom the cultural analysis of the carpet in Qali Shouyan Ritual? How are the functions and special role of the carpet, as a cultural element, explained? The findings showed that carpets, from an anthropological view, include different semantic, functional, and emotional dimensions in Qali Shouyan Ritual. On the other hand, the drawing of the outer (first), the middle (second), and the inner (third) semantic layers of the analysis of the cultural function of the carpet indicated the existence of variety of roles such as weaving, the figure of Prophet’s grandson, coffin, rain-seeking tool.