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- University of Kassel's research data repository

is the institutional repository of the University of Kassel for research data. It offers structured storage of research data alongside with descriptive metadata, long-term archiving for at least 10 years and – if requested – the publication of the dataset with a DOI.

is managed by the university library and the IT Service Centre of the University of Kassel. It is hosted at Philipps-Universität Marburg. We are happy to advise you via daks@uni-kassel.de.

 

Recent Submissions

Research Data
Miracles of Channan Peer
(Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, 2024-12-13) Sheroz; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
An important aspect of Channan Peer’s shrine is that it is situated on a vast sand dune, and whenever there has been an attempt to build a structure on it, it has always resulted in failure. Inside the shrine’s premises, there is a tree, which is widely believed to be the burial site of Channan Peer’s mother. After expressing their wishes, visitors tie pieces of cloth to this tree, and if their prayers are answered, the cloth pieces are said to unravel. The devotees then return during the Urs (annual festival) to sacrifice food and other offerings. For the people of Cholistan, Channan Peer holds the status of a deity of joy and happiness. This spiritual center is considered a source of bliss and contentment. It is believed that all wishes are fulfilled here - sufferers find solace, and those in search of happiness find it. Infertile couples are blessed with children, and those without spouses are granted marriages. It is a tradition that those who come to the shrine seeking children, and whose wishes are fulfilled, return to the shrine dressed in women's attire, such as a blouse (choli) and a skirt (ghagra), and dance joyfully. After spending some time at the shrine, making charitable offerings, they return to their homes.
Research Data
The Mystical Stone and Water Channel of Dambudas
(Universität Kassel, 2024-06-07) Ghulam; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
In Rondo, there is a place called Dambudas. It used to be an uninhabited area, and our ancestors told us that [in former times] Dambudas was unpopulated and had no water resources. We were told that there was a spiritual leader peer in Rondo who used to control jinns and fairies with his magic. One day, he gathered all the jinns and fairies and told them: “I am giving you all a task, you do it, or I will imprison you all.” He then ordered the jinns and fairies to create a water channel to Dambudas. The jinns agreed to the task and built the Goma Saka water channel within 24 hours. When the channel was completed, the king of Rondo found out about it and asked the jinns if they could build a palace khaar for him as well. The jinns also agreed to build the king’s palace. The king then asked what material they would use for the pillars of the palace. The jinns brought a very large stone, but it was not useful for the palace. This 40 to 45 feet long stone still exists today and is known by the locals as Dra Phong, meaning the stone brought by the jinns.
Research Data
Utilization of Food and Simple Medical Cures
(Universität Kassel, 2024-05-23) Maryam Bano; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
Our mothers-in-law were the custodians of food. Wheat and buckwheat flour were stored in clay vessels. [Wheat grains] were grounded in mills (yaig) powered by glacier water. Once the time-consuming grinding was done, bags made from animal skin were used to transport on foot wheat and buckweat flour back home and to hand it over to our mothers-in-law or mothers. Thereafter [whenever necessary] they gave us wheat flour or buckwheat flour with all due respect, and we used it to make bread31 and eat it with love all year-round. When children and old member of household fell sick, the people used to make soup [from ground peach and apricot seeds] and gave it to them. Especially at the onset of winter people became sick and suffered from severe coughing which caused old, weak people to die. Those who survived often suffered a lot of pain as there was no cure for it. [In those occasions] ground peach kernels and herbal plant shani shoto were mixed, kneaded into dough and baked into bread as a cure for sick children and old people.
Research Data
The Cursed Wedding
(Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, 2024-12-25) Muhammad Sajid; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
Assalamu Alaikum. My ancestors used to say that our toba used to be very beautiful and happy as everyone used to have a very busy life by raising cows, goats, sheep, and other animals. Once upon a time, there was a wedding program at a relative's house. When children become adults, it is their duty to get married on time. Everyone started preparing for the wedding. Relatives used to go to the city early in the morning and only return in the evening as they travelled on camels. Finally the day of marriage arrived and the wedding took place. [Unfortunately] during the first night of the wedding the bride died. People were worried and the wedding turned into mourning. People were worried and angry as the bride did not [seem to] have any [apparent] illness, everyone's happiness turned into sorrow. After a few months, another relative also had a wedding, but was afraid of what would happen to us. The wedding took place and on the first night of the wedding, the groom died. People were very worried and sad about what was happening in their village. People started talking about different things: some people speculated about different reasons for their death. At that stage a wise man advised them to tell the village peer about the problem. The peer said that there was a jinn around and no one would get married here because the jinn would not allow any marriage. The people left the village and migrated to another village. There are still few people living but for any wedding occasion they go to another place and when the event finishes they return back [home].
Research Data
The Wandering Souls of Rohi
(Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, 2024-12-25) Muhammad Sajid; Andreas Bürkert; Martin Wiehle; Eva Schlecht; Ellen Hoffmann
A few years back, there were some living a peaceful life in the Toba Bahu Janan Wala. Their livelihoods were largely dependent on livestock such as cows, goats, sheep and other animals which were taken out for daytime grazing and brought back in the evening. One evening when they counted the animals, two of the cows were missing. The people got worried as their animals might have got lost in the wilderness of the desert while grazing. As they started looking around for those animals, it became very hot and as it was very sunny there soon was shortage of drinking water. But despite all their efforts, they could not find their animals and their food and water ran out. In the evening, as they were still searching, they lost their way home. For many days they kept walking in the desert and as they did not find any water, they couldn’t walk anymore and fell down. But, eventually they got up again and kept going looking for the water in any nearby toba. [Unfortunately], they couldn’t reach any toba or find any water and eventually died very close to a toba. Next day, their families got worried that there was no news of them. So they sent three to four villagers out looking for the lost members. After searching all day at the end, they found the [lifeless] corpses of the people, picked them up and went back home. It is believed that the spirits of those people are still wandering around. The atmosphere in this village is so scary that people often stay away from that place, particularly during moonless nights when people never travel there.