My project examines contemporary Islamic practices and beliefs regarding pilgrimage and shrines in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. A swell of interest from local populations in visiting and rejuvenating sacred sites accompanied the emergence of independent states after the collapse of the Soviet Union. An integrated analysis of a diverse range of written sources along with accounts from pilgrims, shrine guardians, and religious specialists helps reveal that this renewed interest in shrines was spawned in part through connections with the past and as a result of negotiations with new political, economic, and social realities.
Jennifer Webster, of the University of Washington, was a 2011-2012 Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) [7] fellow.
