User:Kaukaz net/Tindis

The Tindis (Tindals) – a small ethnic group of around 2000 inhabitants. The Tindis live in the mountain area of the Tsumada region in Dagestan, Russia. The Tsumadinsky district is situated in western Dagestan in the upper course of the Andi Koysu River. It borders Chechnya and Georgia. The name Tindis comes from the name of their largest settellment – village Idari, called in Avar language Tindi.

Habitation / habitat
Most of Tindis live in villages Echeda, Tindi, Angida, Gunduchi, Aknada as well as in the villages and cities in the plateau (Mutsaul, Chassavjurt itc.), traditional sites for migration for Tindis and other Dagestani ethnic groups from Tsumada.

Classification / numbers
It is difficult to estimate the exact number of people identyfing themselves as Tindis – the number range from 1000 to 5000 people, depending on the identification criteria. According to the newest population census in October 2010 xxxx people identified as Tindis. Soviet ethnographers classified the Tindis, along with Bagvauls and Andis as the subgroups of Avars (biggest ethnic group in Dagestan), basing probably on the territorial criteria, as the Tindi and Avar languages bear little resemblance. Nevertheless Tinds were identified as Avars and consequently started to identify themselves as such.

Language
The Tindi language belongs to the northwestern group of Dagestani languages. It has two dialects: Tindi and Angida-Aknada. The Tindi language has no written form. Nevertheless it is commonly used in the Tindis villages in everyday life, in the kindergardens and (unofficially) in the  primary education. The gatherings of the local council of elsers are also held in Tindi language, however documents are in Russian. Most Tindis speak three languages: Tindi – which they use with other Tindis, Avar in which they communicate in the Tsumada region and other Avar regions in Dagestan, and Russian, commonly used while in other Dagestani districts or in other parts of Russian Federation.

Religion
Most Tindis are Sunni Muslim. The Islam began to spread in the region from the 8th century on, however influences of Christianity from Georgia were also strong (12-13th centuries). In the 17th-18th century the region was finally islamized. Religion was strong among Tindis even during Soviet times. Hardly controlled by the communists they continued to hold their islamic practices, like five time prayer, fast, abstinece from alcohol. Pilgrimage to Mecca, forbidden during Soviet times was substituted by the pilgrimage to local pirs (ziyarats). Sufi brotherhoods (both Nachshbandiya and Kadiriya) were popular among Tindis. Tindis are famous for Muslim scholars. Villages Tindi and Aknada were acknowledged Muslim education centers in mountainous Dagestan.