View source for Chak Chak, Yazd

{{Short description|Village in Yazd province, Iran}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Chak Chak
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{Nastaliq|چک‌چک}}}}
| native_name_lang   = fa
| other_name         = Chāhak-e Ardakān, Pīr-e Sabz
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities, towns and villages in Yazd province|Village]]
| image_skyline      = File:Zoroastrian Persian Shrine chak-chak Republic Ardakan.jpg
| image_caption      = Chak Chak in 2015
| pushpin_map        = Iran
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Iran
| pushpin_relief     = y
| mapsize            = 150px
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Iran}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Iran|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Yazd province|Yazd]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Counties of Iran|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Ardakan County|Ardakan]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Bakhsh (administrative division)|Bakhsh]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Kharanaq District|Kharanaq]]
| subdivision_type4  = [[Dehestan (administrative division)|Rural District]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Robatat Rural District|Robatat]]
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_footnotes     = 
| population_as_of   = 2006
| population_total   = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Iran Standard Time|IRST]]
| utc_offset         = +3:30
| timezone_DST       = [[Iran Daylight Time|IRDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +4:30
| coordinates        = {{Coord|32|20|53.14|N|54|24|31.04|E|region:IR|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 
| area_code          = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=November 2024}}

'''Chak Chak''' or '''Chek Chek''' ({{langx|fa|چک‌چک|rtl=yes}}, {{literal translation|Drip-Drip}}), also called '''Chāhak-e Ardakān''' ({{Langx|fa|چاهکِ اردکان|label=none|rtl=yes}}, {{Literal translation|Well of [[Ardakan County|Ardakan]]}}) or '''Pīr-e Sabz''' ({{langx|fa|پیر سبز|label=none|rtl=yes}}, {{Literal translation|The Green [[Pir (Zoroastrianism)|Pir]]}}),<ref>{{GEOnet3|-3057726|Chak Chak}}</ref> is a location in the [[Yazd province]] of [[Iran]]. Located near the city of [[Ardakan]], its existence was noted in the 2006 Iranian census.<ref>{{IranCensus2006|21}}</ref>

The site consists of a "pir" (a pilgrimage site for [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrians]]) perched beneath a towering cliff face in the desert of [[central Iran]]. It is the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism, which was formerly the majority and official religion of the Iranian nation. Each year, from 14 to 18 June, thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran and [[India]], among other countries, flock to the site's [[fire temple]].

== In Zoroastrian tradition ==
{{No citations section|date=November 2024}}
Among some Zoroastrians, it is believed that Chak Chak is where Nikbanou, the second daughter of the Iranian king [[Yazdegerd III]], was cornered by the [[Rashidun army]] in 640 CE, during the [[Muslim conquest of Persia|Arab conquest of Iran]]. Fearing that she would be captured, she prayed to [[Ahura Mazda]] for protection, prompting the mountain to miraculously open up and provide her with shelter.

Notable features of Chak Chak include the mountain's ever-dripping spring, which are said to be tears of grief that are shed in remembrance of Nikbanou. Growing beside the holy spring is an immense and ancient tree that is said to be Nikbanou's cane. Legend also has it that a petrified colorful cloth from Nikbanou was also visible in the rocks, although pilgrims have since removed it.

== Temple of Chak Chak ==
The actual temple of Chak Chak is a man-made grotto sheltered by two large bronze doors. The shrine enclosure is floored with marble and its walls are darkened by fires eternally burning in the sanctuary. In the cliffs below the shrine are several roofed pavilions constructed to accommodate pilgrims.

==Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Wiki Loves Monuments 2018 Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak-1.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Wiki Loves Monuments 2018 Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak-2.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Wiki Loves Monuments 2018 Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak-3.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Wiki Loves Monuments 2018 Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak-4.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Chak Chak - inside shrine.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Incense in Chak Chak.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Zoroastrian temple doors opening.jpg|Iran - Yazd - Chak Chak
File:Chak-chak.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Iran}}
{{commons category|Chak Chak}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210153/http://www.zoroastriannews.com/category/chak-chak/ Articles about Chak Chak]
* Ali Attar, ''Pir-e Sabz'', in Persian, Jadid Online, 2007, [http://www.jadidonline.com/story/18062007/fq/zoroastrain_pilgrims].<br />A slide show of ''Pir-e Sabz'': [https://web.archive.org/web/20071027135749/http://www.jadidonline.com/images/stories/flash_multimedia/Chak_Chaktest/chak_high.html] (4 min 43 sec).

{{Ardakan County}}
{{Zoroastrianism}}
{{Ardakan-geo-stub}}

[[Category:Populated places in Ardakan County]]
[[Category:Zoroastrianism in Iran]]
[[Category:Shrines in Iran]]