Zinaat

"What he meant by that is, the entire house is decorated with statues and ornaments of different animals many of which we passed across the lake, they commemorate different festivals for they had many, one for each month I believe. I said nothing because he was right. They served no purpose other than decoration and even Omid grew tired of them. She would often lie awake at night because she had forgotten to turn over the statue to the opposite side, the eyes had scared her, and who can blame her? They frightened me out too, the beady red balls make me want to smash it to pieces."

Mechanics & Inner Workings

It is said that an Azaadi women is advised to have at least one Zinaat in every household in order to protect her family against corruption and narcissistic behaviour. Azaadi lore and tradition tells us how this works.

• The Zinaat must be made straight out of the stone of a dying land, this is to summon the righteous spirits within the ancient ruins.

• You must then take these stones to a blacksmith, a special type of blacksmith called Murood. He will then burn this stone until it is as black as obsidian. Black because is seen as the colour of guardianship and of protection.

• The stone can then be molded as per wish, the Azaadi will be given several designs to choose from based upon the blacksmiths' skills.

• Once molded and hardened the Azaadi can then go to a Jeweller who will add a specific jewel known to banish wrong doers called Dariyam

• The Azaadi can then take it back home with them to be placed upon a mantle piece.

• It is said that if there is a slight twinkle to the eye, the Zinaat has completed its work.

Significance

Zinaats have been used as a decorative piece since Ancient times in Azaadi history. They hold particular importance for women as it is said to cleanse away evil spirits, protecting them from the evil eye. Zinaats suggest that one is quite superstitious but in Azaad this is seen as a good thing. An infamous tale in Azaadi lore follows the life of a young seamstress and her arrogrance of ignoring the Almighty Gods. As a result her soul was trapped into toy belonging to an infant Goddess Jemlisa, the toy was later known to us as a Zinaat.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Rarity

Common if you are an Azaadi residant.

Weight

3 Stones

Dimensions

25 X 25 cm

Base Price

45 Chazri

Raw materials & Components

Solid stone, preferably found from the ruins of old.

Tools

A blacksmiths hammer and chivel and a jewellery maker's piler.