Isfahan Tribes

Isfahan Tribes (Part 1)

According to the latest statistics in 2008, tribes in Isfahan province account for 4.5 percent of the country's population. The tribes of Bakhtiari, Qashqai and Arabs are the three tribes that spend the summers and winters in the highland pastures of Isfahan province. The total population of tribal families in Isfahan is about 9,560. Qashqai and Bakhtiari are two big tribes of Iran.

The villages that the Qashqai walk around and across in the summer are located in Semirom, Dehagan, and Shahreza. The Bakhtiari wander in Chadegan and Fereydoun Shahr. So, Semirom and Fereydoun Shahr are the destinations of two main nomadic tribal groups. The nomadic tribes’ wandering begins from late June until the end of October.
Qashqai tribes travel to the provinces of Bushehr, Fars, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad for spending the winter.

Qashqai’s dialect is Turkish and Bakhtiari’s is Lori. The tribes of Isfahan have about one million livestock. By entering the province, their livestock is ready to be sold to the market. Approximately, 10000 tons of red meat get into Isfahan markets every year through these tribes. The tribes of Isfahan province produce about 120,000 tons of livestock, wheat, barley, and crops each year.

They also produce different types of handicrafts include rugs, carpets, gabbeh (a kind of rug, wave by Ashayer), and local hats.

They play a great role in the agricultural industry not only in Isfahan Province but also in Fars Province.

What is important to know about these tribes is that they have special customs, tradition, and culture which is obviously totally different from other Iranians.