Langar village

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Langar village

Langar village
Langar village

While the name «Langar» can be found in various countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Iran, a small village named Langar near Shakhrisabz in Uzbekistan is particularly noteworthy. This village is renowned for the mausoleum of Mukhammad Sodiq, a prominent Sufi figure.

The term «Langar» originates from the Farsi language, which borrowed it from the Greek word for «anchor.» The evolution of the word went from «anchor» to «angor» to «langor» and finally «langar.» Interestingly, the Turkish city of Ankara also translates to «anchor.» Historically, Langars were caravanserais on the Great Silk Road where merchants would stop, essentially dropping their anchors. As a result, settlements with this name are scattered across Central Asia.

However, the story behind this particular Langar is tied to a legend from the 15th century involving Sheykh Mukhammad Sodiq, a disciple of the renowned Sufi Ishqiya Baba, the founder of the Ishqiya Sufi order. One cold winter morning, Mukhammad Sodiq overslept and failed to boil water for his teacher’s ablution. To make amends, he held the water jug close to his chest. Miraculously, when he handed the jug to Ishqiya Baba, the water was boiling. Recognizing Mukhammad Sodiq’s spiritual achievement, Ishqiya Baba told him they must part ways and instructed him to travel until his camel could go no further. This spot, where the exhausted camel finally stopped, became the village of Langar.

Visiting Langar

To visit this picturesque and unique place, one must drive about 60 km from Shakhrisabz. The journey begins on a highway and then turns east towards the foothills of the Hissar mountain range. Langar appears unexpectedly after navigating deep canyons and small hills. The village, with its clay homes, suddenly comes into view under a winding road. Perched on a separate hill is the mausoleum of Mukhammad Sodiq, which is over 500 years old. Additionally, there is a mosque in the village that is 400 years old. Langar as a whole seems frozen in time, maintaining the atmosphere of the period when the mosque and mausoleum were constructed.