Tabasarans

*Population estimates for 1994

The people of Tabasaran nationality live in Southern Daghestan. Tabasaran nature is versatile and diverse with forests and mountains everywhere. This terrian is found to be steep and sharp, yet gentle in some areas. The languages they speak vary from Tabasaran and Lezgin to the Azerbaijanian and Russian languages.

Tabasaran settlements are as versatile as the languages spoken. The Tabasarans build their houses on steep hills and mountain slopes where old-fashioned mud-houses still stand, while new ones are being built out of unprocessed stone. These building are not extremely attractive, but they are firm and reliable.

National clothing of the Tabasaran people have almost disappeared from everyday life. Only on rare occasions may the women wear them. Not only is the national clothing vanishing, but the traditions and customs are as well. Most of the Tabasarans are engaged in the mixed economy comprising agriculture and cattle-breeding. The Tabasarans have some trades such as carpet-weaving which is well known beyond the boundaries of the Tabasaran region.

The Tabasarans are of the Muslim-Sunnites faith.