An Aşıq/Ashik Tea-house in Urmia, [South] Azerbaijan, Iran

An Ashik / Ashiq is a wandering bard or troubadour who sings, composes poems and plays Saz, a form of lute. The Ashik tradition is derived from Shamanistic beliefs of ancient Turkic peoples and has a significant role in current folk culture of Turks in South Azerbaijan/Iranian Azerbaijan, republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Ashiks have been called by various names such as Bakhshi (Baxşı), Dede (dədə), and Ozan. The Bakhshi (Baxşı) in the Central Asia (Turkistan) also comes from the same origin.
Urmiye Aşıq Mektebi (Urmia School of Ashik) is one of the most significant schools of Ashik tradition in Turkic world. It is deeply rooted in the cities of Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Qoshachay, Tikantepe/Tikab and other regions of West Azerbaijan province of Iran.
Alirza Quluncu