Cultural Indigenization and Local Meaning Production: Analysis of the Roles of Hazrat Abolfazl (AS) in the Context of Hunting Rituals at Chalashtor Castle

Chalashtor Castle in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province represents a unique integration of Shiite religious symbols with local culture and indigenous rituals. This research analyzes the cultural indigenization process in the imagery of Hazrat Abolfazl (AS) within hunting rituals, examining how local meaning is produced through religious, ethnic, and social code interactions.
Research question: How has cultural indigenization in Hazrat Abolfazl (AS) imagery at Chalashtor Castle been formed, and what mechanisms have contributed to local meaning production?
Methodology: This qualitative research employs Appadurai's "cultural indigenization" theory, utilizing in-depth interviews with 15 local elders, direct field observation, visual analysis of stone carvings, and historical document examination. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and open coding.
Findings reveal that indigenization occurred in three key stages following Appadurai's cultural flows model: entry of religious ideological flows, interaction with local culture, and production of new indigenous meaning. Hunting symbols and local heroism merged with Hazrat Abolfazl (AS), creating a hybrid identity. This process generated a new religious space rooted in Shiite traditions while addressing local identity needs. Cultural indigenization preserved local traditions and enriched religious concept semantics. These findings highlight the importance of considering adaptive cultural processes in religious heritage and local identity studies