Russia is |
Peoples of Russia
Aghuls
The Aghuls are a people of the central part of the southeast of Dagestan. Their self-designation is Aghular (“the inhabitants of Aghul”)
Language
They speak the Aghul language, which belongs to the Lezgin subgroup of the Nakh-Dagestan branch of the Northern Caucasus language family; its dialects are: Tpig (Aghul), Keren (Richa), Koshan, Burkikhan, Fite. Lezgin, Azerbaijani, Russian languages are also widespread. The writing system is based on the Russian script.
Dispersion
They live in Dagestan, mostly in the central part of the southeast of the republic, in the ravines that were difficult to access, in cities, in the Derbent region (those who arrived in the 1960s), in Stavropol (1.5 thousand people) and Krasnodar (0.4 thousand) territories as well as in the Saratov region (0.5 thousand).
Ethnic groups
The Aghuls are still divided into four groups (which live in four ravines): Aguldere, Kurakhdere, Khushandere and Khlyukdere.
Society
The traditional social organization – the village community – was an independent economic and territorial organization. The patriarchal kinship unions called tukhums, which were mostly endogamous, continued to exist. In the communal life, the customs of mutual help, honoring the elders and offering hospitality continued to exist.
Traditional occupations
Plough agriculture and cattle breeding. Smithing, leatherwork, sheepskin and wool processing, woodcarving and stone carving were developed. The modern economy is multiindustrial. These who moved onto the plains have developed grape growing, gardening, horticulture. As for home crafts, carpet weaving still exists in the mountains.
Clothes
Traditional clothes of the common Dagestani type. The outer garments were worn with leather belts with silver decorative plate. Women wore a tunic-like shirt dress, colored baggy pants, a fabric belt, on their heads a hair pouch, a headscarf and a veil; various silver decorations.
Food
The traditional food – plant-based, flour-based, meat- and dairy-based (khinkal, dumplings, pies, cheese, etc.) – is typical for most peoples of Dagestan.
