Tindi is a village (aul) in the Tsumadinsky district of Dagestan.
The village is located at the foot of the Adallo-Shukhgel-meer
mountain (in Tindinsky "Kabala dees"), covered with eternal
glaciers, on the right bank of the Kila River, on the inaccessible
Bogossky mountain range. The height of individual peaks of the
mountain range is more than 4 thousand meters above sea level.
Glaciers and permanent snow cover several square kilometers. The
most powerful glacial massif is Belengi, whose area is 4 square
meters. km, and the thickness of the glacier is significant - in
some places it reaches 170 m.
The flora and fauna of Bogossa
is rich and varied. Here there is a relict birch called Radde, a
rare, endangered plant of the Tindinsky thistle. In the mountainous
areas and on the rocks of the Adallo-Shukhgel-mayor, the Dagestan
tur lives, on rocky areas - the bezoar goat. Bogoss is a favorite
destination for climbers and tourists.
The history of the village of Tindi goes back to
antiquity. When exactly the settlement was founded, it has not been
established. However, the words of the old residents, the data of
archaeological excavations indicate that the settlement has long
been inhabited by man.
This is evidenced by the remains of
the destroyed settlement on Mount Gobl'i shchebola, and numerous
burials found during the construction of a new quarter of the
village. In these burials were found 2nd century women's jewelry,
bronze figurines and numerous images of crosses, confirming that in
ancient times the Tindians professed a pagan religion or were
Christians.
The campaigns of stronger peoples led to the
displacement and resettlement of some groups of the population who
did not want to obey from their original habitats, which led to the
formation of new ethnosocial formations: villages, societies,
tukhums. This is how the village of Tindi was formed on the mountain
G'obli shchebola. The Tindinka River flows here from the east, and
the Kila River from the south. The village was naturally protected
from all sides from the raids of its neighbors.
The growth of
property and social inequality and the thirst for profit further
stimulated the feudal rulers to make raids and plunder neighboring
villages. That is why auls were built on mountain tops, on
hard-to-reach rocks, on steep river banks - in order to create
natural barriers. The Tindin society was one of the largest rural
settlements. The inhabitants of the society called themselves
"idari" (leaders).
There is interesting information from old
residents about the origin of the name of the village of Tindi. In
their opinion, “Tuindi” comes from the words “tuil chuvay” (“tuil” -
“stick”, “chuvay” - “to put”). Visiting hunters put sticks at the
place of their lodging in a cave around Mount Gobli rubble, hung
their equipment on them. This is where the name "Tindy" comes from.
Another legend says that ancient people learned to make an
alcoholic drink called "dindi" from barley or spring wheat using
hops that grow on the banks of the Kila River. This is where the
name "Tindi" comes from.
There is a third assumption, which
is probably closer to the truth.
They say that in ancient
times at the bottom of the gorge there was a road connecting
Dagestan with Georgia. The travelers, going down to the gorge, said:
"We are going to rest at the bottom." In Avar, the bottom of "tino"
is Tindi.
The main branch of the economy of the Tindians was
agriculture. Although there was not enough land, each family had its
own piece of uncomfortable land - "mulk". The highlanders tried to
have a piece of arable land, which traditionally symbolized a
certain well-being of the family. Hence the high prices for land in
the mountains.
The Tindians celebrated a variety of holidays.
The most significant was the Kyaba holiday. It is also famous
because there was no such holiday in neighboring societies. Maybe he
remained from the days of paganism or Christianity.
The
holiday began in the middle of winter, that is, after 40 days from
the beginning of winter, somewhere on February 2-3. According to the
Tindin agricultural calendar, winter lasted from December 20 to
March 20. After hibernation, nature begins to awaken from the middle
of winter. The days are getting warmer, longer and the nights are
shorter. The whole village was preparing the holiday. Nobody
appointed those responsible. All as one prepared the holiday.
According to the old custom, a local low-alcohol drink, honey,
was fermented. On the appointed day, all the villagers brought some
flour, some meat, some cheese into the common pot.
The women
baked bread, cooked meat, prepared treats. In the afternoon, from
the outskirts of the village or from nearby farmsteads, it was
necessary to bring the bride of Kyaba to the village "Kiabala
bakhgaray".
The bride became a poor, poor woman, usually a
widow. A man and a woman were sent for the bride on horseback.
Young people blocked the path of the wedding caravan, demanding
a ransom, that is, a jug of bread drink, a bottle of moonshine or
vodka, bread and meat.
The wedding caravan moved slowly
towards the center of the village. Along the way, the youth again
blocked his path, demanding a ransom. As soon as they received the
ransom, they cleared the road and escorted the procession to the
center of the village.
The fun was already beginning there:
dances, songs to the drum and zurnu. As the bride Kiaba approached
the center of the village, she was showered with sweets, small
coins, symbolizing success and prosperity this year, and the
children collected these sweets and small coins. Then everyone was
fed.
After the meal, the fun began again, dances and songs.
Whoever invited Kyaba's bride to dance had to put money on her head.
The fun continued until late at night.
Finally, Kaba's bride
was given gifts: cuts for a dress, scarves, shoes, money, and so on.
The holiday ended there.
This holiday was massive, young and
old took part in it. All this was done very solemnly. Such was the
Tindin festival of Kyaba, the festival of the awakening of nature.