YADA TAŞINDAN GARA NEF OYUNUNA
FROM YADA STONE TO GARA NEF GAME

Summary/Abstract: The ancient Turks believed that they could make it rain and snow and realize other weather events with the yada stone (the Originator Stone) also known as cada, cada stone in Turkish dialects. The stone that opens the way of power could be found in deer heads, water birds, or the bellies of snakes and oxen. In this context, when the mythology of the Turks is examined, "making it rain" is one of the oldest motifs. In the old Turkish Tradition of Kamlık, the yada stone used by Kam-Shaman-Baksı-Oyun to realize weather events is mentioned in rituals. Boratav has collected the ceremonies attended by adults and children under two titles: "the games performed by the adults with rain prayers" and "the games attended by children like Çömçeli Gelin (Bride with Ladle)". Today, rituals have veeb replaced by games. Hotamış Turkmens of the Begdili tribe, who migrated from the geography of the Turkish province to Asia Minor, fulfill the task of making it rain or snow with the "sheep kih" (sheep manure), with a game called "Gara Nef" in the settled life and played with the elders. Turkmens residing in the Hotamıs Neighbourhood of Karapınar, Konya play the game they learned from their ancestors in the afternoon or evening. Six wells and two warehouses are dug in the ground. The number of kihs (manures) in the game played with two people is eight. The number of materials in the game also indicates duality. As a result, the person who lost "gırnavs" (makes cat sound), and the winner determine which weather event will be, with the formal phrase “Will it rain or snow”. If the last kih (manure) thrown from the shoulder to the back targets the rain, then a snake is caught, killed, and burned in the fire. Darkness will turn into light with the cleansing and purifying nature of the burnt snake. So the duality will be completed. In a sense, this indicates that all beings created in the universe consist of two poles. In the study, prepared by using Full Structured Interviewing, Participant Observation, and Document (Content) Analysis methods, the game is indicated with a figure. It is understood that the traces of the Old Turkish Tradition of Kamlık continue in Hotamıs. The numbers of kih (manure) used in the game are also meaningful in terms of formalism. It is aimed at transferring one more piece of information to the mythological data map of Konya.

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