Imilchil festival,myth two lovers suicide in two lakes

[Omar Zanifi]

The Legend of the Imilchil Wedding Festival Imilchil Festival
August / September , 2007

There once were two young people who fell deeply in love in Morocco. Unfortunately, they were from enemy tribes. Their families wouldn't allow them to marry. Out of grief, they wept bitterly. They continued their crying day and night until they created two lakes made of their tears. Their despair was so great, they committed suicide by drowning in those two lakes. The Imilchil Moussem has been created to pay homage to those two young lovers. Henceforth, all the families granted total freedom to their children to marry whomever they chose. The engagement festivities take place every September in the largest souk of all . . the Ait Haddidou Tribe. The lakes are called "Isli", meaning bridegroom and "Tislit" meaning bride. The neighboring tribes gather together near these lakes, and the women choose their husbands. There is great feasting after the solemn and respectful ceremony.
For the young men and girls of the area, it is a tradition to get married on the day of the Moussem in ancient times, a holy man used to bless the betrothed at Agdoul, and legend says they were always happy.
The fiancé' festival is staged on the site of the tomb of the Oldman, who is venerated in the high atlas. It is a time for some 30,000 people from the mountains to assemble under tents for three days with their flocks, their horses and camels. It is an occasion for the young girls to wear their finery, their sumptuous silver jewelry, and to dance for hours under the sun and under the stars.
These festivals are not really connected with Moussems because they are joyful events with no religious associations. Each region holds a festival to celebrate the basic source of its wealth for the benefit of numerous visitors both from Morocco and abroad. Traditions have established the program of these local festivals. Everyone must conform to custom in order to be accepted by a society that is proud of its cultural and spiritual heritage.

Imilchil festival
Imilchil Festival
August / September , 2007
Her name was "Tislet", and his was "Isli". Their families were enemy Berber tribes from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Although they were lovers, in true Shakespearean tradition, their irate parents refused to allow them to marry. Their hearts were broken. To live apart was impossible. They sadly exchanged vows, then drowned themselves in two nearby lakes which now bear their names. Destiny wills that even in death, they are unable to unite. The imposing mountain seated between the two bodies of water acts as a guardian even as their spirits reach out for one another.
this act of desperation so devastated the hostile clans of the Berber "Ait Haddidou" that parents of this tribe thenceforth granted their children the right to choose their own marriage partners.
So unfold the story woven around the annual Berber Brides' Festival of Imilchil, held high in the lake plateau of the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco. Each year in September after the harvest, from every corner of the Ait Haddidou domain, come young men and women in search of a mate.
The moussem, or festival, occurs near Imilchil, at the site of the burial place of Sidi Mohamed El Maghani, the patron saint of the Ait Haddidou. Legend has it that the marriage which were blessed by this holy man were happy and long-lasting thus the reason for the arduous trek to this isolated area.
At one time, this was an exclusive "family affair", with members of some fifty tribes from the region converging on the otherwise barren plateau for a Berber version of the family reunion and wedding celebration combined.
Now, those outsiders hardy enough to make the grueling trip are also welcome to participate in the festivities, the affairs become now an international attraction for tourists from all over the world.



Some videos on site youtube to see more and have clear image about this sacred festival.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9_l_J-QZkM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdy-YUZhivM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQUUlLNdVM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYh_dyO1Hpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DyefH0OXbA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn1sc8Y8mzY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqAUFHVt-Go&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn8OX3QEFb8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjlSHpIXkqg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTCXtA8nqo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIvl09BbwzU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8qe8yEjXSw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52AX9SDiW0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52AX9SDiW0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpQzTugyXdE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE5hIPliqDQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB_s2872Ku4&feature=related

[Michal Ashkenasi]

Hello Omar ,
I read your story about the festivities at the 2 lakes and enjoyed it very much ! It is really like a Shakespear story ! I also looked at several videos , really an eyeopener and it gives us an insight of the lifes and folklore of the Berber tribes !!
Thank you for sharing with us !!!