Elmala Baba was a religious complex that consists of a tomb,a mosque,a ritual house and surrounding buildings. It was built between 1362 - 1402. It is one of the most respected in the country because it is unique in Bulgaria. There are not one but seven graves In Elmala Baba Teke. The tomb is divided into two sections- male and female. The male is named after the saint Elmala Baba and it has 6 nameless graves. The female is of Fatima -the daughter of the prophet Mohammed and wife of Ali Hazreti - the largest Alevi saint. There is an inscription from the 17th century, which is supposedly made by the son of Elmala Baba. According to epitaphs found on the tomb, there was a Bektash temple here. Many dervishes (most similar to mendicant friars in Christianity ). Many dervishes used to live here.A madarsa was built adjacent to the school. It existed until 1935.
Approximate dimensions of the male Teke are 10.90 length and 5.50 width.There are two niches inside . One is to keep the candles and the other to raise money.It consists of eight elements. In the middle of the ceiling there is a wooden dome, painted with yellow paint.The six graves were arranged in parallel, with the heads facing southwest. On them were erected mounds made of beams and covered with green baize. The graves are about three meters long.The Tekke is covered with hand-woven rugs. The walls are decorated with tapestries. There are also portraits of Hazreti Ali Hadji Bektash Veli and the Twelve Imams.
The grave of Fatima is a simple wooden coffin, covered with green cloth. There is a print depicting her "hand" with an eye in the middle of the palm. It is believed that here are buried the right hand and eye of the wife of Ali Hazreti. Fatima’s grave is visited mostly by women. On this day there are sick and childless people who sleep overnight with the hope to receive help from the saint.
Thousands of followers of alevism – religious movement in Islam- traditionally gather on their holy places every autumn in the Eastern Rhodopes. Arriving worshipers traditionally perform the whole ritual. They touch the threshold of the tomb, then the end, the middle and the top of the largest tomb. After each contact with the mound, they touch their chests. The worshipers touch the six headstones. Metal bowls are placed on them. They light candles. On the day of the festival - on Saturday,many gifts are placed on the graves. Among them are artificial flowers, candles, matches, and clothes.The Alevi would also put money in piggy banks, dug into the ground. Main event for the participants in the fair is animals’ auction held under the ancient oak.