An Assessment of Yünüm Böğet on the Basis of Human-Animal Bond and Sustainability of the Tradition

Yunum Boget is one of the many shepherd festivals in Anatolia, like koc katimi, kirkim toreni (wool shearing) which was registered in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory under the category of seasonal traditional celebrations. This tradition, which essentially aims to wash and clean the sheeps, is an extension of nomadic traditions of Turkish tribes related to the cults about animals such as saya gezme and saya mani. Yunum boget is celebrated like a competition in Hasanpasa Village in Burdur. However, unlike many other animal festivals, it is the shepherds who compete, and the relationship based on trust between the lead sheep (elcik koyunu) and the shepherd determine the winner. It is believed that the lead sheep will not hesitate to leap into cold water behind the shepherd if the shepherd has taken good care of his flock. Washing the sheep in water and confessions of the shepherd for redemption for the harm given to the crops in the fields while grazing the flock when he enters the water forms the core values of this tradition. With this festival, shared memories of Tos Tos ritual, entertainments with local singers and folk dances, folk poems which are read during water crossing ceremony, and rituals of redemption are passed on to the next generations. The festival ends with an award ceremony in which a proverb toprakla koyun, gerisi oyun (land and sheep, the rest is vain) is reminded to express that the entertainments and competitions are only instruments to continue tradition. Traditions guide us in finding solutions to the ecological problems rooted in modern anthropocentrism by embedding and preserving human-nature relationship and our perceptions about this special bond. Traditional practises which embody respect in natural cults, the traces of a holistic view of the universe, and the roots of principles of bio-ethics show us that the main cause of the problem is distancing and alienation of humans from the nature. Passing the message of traditions which make up cultural ecological legacy to future generations is of utmost importance in developing ethical behaviours about the environment and animals. Preservation of these cultural assets not only provide a link between the past and the future of the communities, but also reinforce a feeling of belongingness and identity, and add value and meaning to the lives of local people. Such cultural practices support social integration and solidarity, and protects the diversity of local cultures. Scientific studies help to preserve these cultural assets by registering and exploring authentic natures of cultural heritages. At the same time, these cultural values are unique sources of anonymous data with their embedded information about living conditions, daily lives, world views, and belief systems of communities. Within this context, the aim of this paper is to contribute to raising awareness about sustainability of yunum boget, based on an understanding of its function in the relationship between human and nature.