Chepni of Rumkale

Although formed by Chepni, the Chepni Tekke in Gaziantep gradually became the center of all Alevi Turkmens living near Aintab. On certain days of the year, people from the vicinity of Besni, Marash, Sakçagözü, Islahiye, and Barak villages would travel to the city for traditional celebrations. Visitors then would kiss the hand of the Chepni Dede, who would arrive the same day, bring presents, and take part in recreational activities. The visitors then would take home some of the water from the tekke's well, since it is considered as holy as the Zamzam Well in Mecca.^[8]

All Chepni in the region traditionally follow the Alevi branch of Islam, and due to their belief, they were particularly distinguished from the nearby Sunni Kurd population, who would traditionally see any kind of interaction with Alevis as a sin.^[9] Chepni of Rumkale namely belong to Dede Garkın and Musa Kâzım Ocaks.^[2][10]