In
Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ ; Arabic: المندائيّة ), sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, S ...
, the lofani, laufani, or laufania ( myz, ࡋࡀࡅࡐࡀࡍࡉࡀ
[Al Saadi, Qais (2012). ''Nhura: English-Mandaic/Mandaic-Mandaic Dictionary''. First Edition, Drabsha.]) is a type of ritual meal commemorating the dead.
It is etymologically related to the word ''
laufa
In Mandaeism, laufa or laupa ( myz, ࡋࡀࡅࡐࡀ) is the concept of a spiritual connection forged between Tibil (Earth) and the World of Light. It has been variously translated as "communion," "spiritual union," "spiritual connection," or "vita ...
'' ("spiritual communion"), since lofani meals symbolize the connection of the souls of the living and the dead. The meal sometimes contains sacrificed sheep or dove meat.
[Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.]
It is distinct from the ''
zidqa brika
In Mandaeism, the zidqa brika (or ''zidqa brikha''; myz, ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡊࡀ, lit=blessed oblation) is a type of ritual meal blessed by Mandaean priests.Segelberg, Eric. 1977. "''Zidqa Brika'' and the Mandæan Problem. In ''Proceedin ...
'' and ''
dukrana
In Mandaeism, the dukrana ( myz, ࡃࡅࡊࡓࡀࡍࡀ) or dukrania is a type of memorial ritual meal commemorating the dead.Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
It is distinct from the '' ...
'', which are two other types of ritual meal offered for the dead.
Gallery
Lofani being prepared by Mandaean laypeople in
Ahvaz
Ahvaz ( fa, اهواز, Ahvâz ) is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is hom ...
, Iran:
File:Parwanaya 2015 Ahvaz 20.jpg
File:Parwanaya 2015 Ahvaz 21.jpg
File:Lofani 01.jpg
File:Lofani 02.jpg
File:Lofani 03.jpg
File:Lofani 04.jpg
File:Lofani 05.jpg
File:Lofani 06.jpg
File:Lofani 07.jpg
See also
*
Sacred food as offering
Sacred food as offering is a concept within anthropology regarding the study of food as it relates to religious ritual.
Many religions have prescriptions about the correct preparation and cooking of food, besides the taboos about forbidden subj ...
*
Dukrana
In Mandaeism, the dukrana ( myz, ࡃࡅࡊࡓࡀࡍࡀ) or dukrania is a type of memorial ritual meal commemorating the dead.Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
It is distinct from the '' ...
*
Eucharist
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...
*
Koliva
Koliva, also spelled, depending on the language, kollyva, kollyba or colivă, is a dish based on boiled wheat that is used liturgically in the Eastern Orthodox Church for commemorations of the dead.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, koliva is bl ...
*
Laufa
In Mandaeism, laufa or laupa ( myz, ࡋࡀࡅࡐࡀ) is the concept of a spiritual connection forged between Tibil (Earth) and the World of Light. It has been variously translated as "communion," "spiritual union," "spiritual connection," or "vita ...
*
Zidqa brika
In Mandaeism, the zidqa brika (or ''zidqa brikha''; myz, ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡊࡀ, lit=blessed oblation) is a type of ritual meal blessed by Mandaean priests.Segelberg, Eric. 1977. "''Zidqa Brika'' and the Mandæan Problem. In ''Proceedin ...
References
External links
Lofani in Ahvaz, part 1Lofani in Ahvaz, part 2Lofani in Ahvaz, part 3Lofani/Dokhrani (ritual meal for the dead)
Lay Mandaeans in Iran (unedited clips and photographs)
Lofani/Dokhrani (ritual meal for the dead)
as performed and explained by Tarmida Khaldoon Majid Abdullah
Mandaean ceremonial food and drink
Mandaic words and phrases
Funeral food and drink
{{Mandaeism-stub