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The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , )Script notes
specify "bah-JOR-an" and "BAY-jor" as the correct pronunciations, but in media pronunciation varies.
are a fictional species in the science-fiction ''
Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...
'' franchise. They are a
humanoid A humanoid (; from English ''human'' and '' -oid'' "resembling") is a non-human entity with human form or characteristics. By the 20th century, the term came to describe fossils which were morphologically similar, but not identical, to those of ...
extraterrestrial species native to the planet
Bajor The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , )Script notes
specify "bah-JOR-an" and "BAY-jor" as the correc ...
, who have a long-standing enmity with the
Cardassian The Cardassians () are a fictional Extraterrestrial life in popular culture, extraterrestrial species in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They were devised in 1991 for the series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' before b ...
s, owing to decades of subjugation under a military dictatorship which saw many of their species enslaved or forced into exile away from their homeworld. They were first introduced in the 1991 episode " Ensign Ro" of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', and subsequently were a pivotal element of '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' and also appeared in '' Star Trek: Voyager'' and '' Star Trek: Picard''. The shows' writers initially depicted the Bajorans as an oppressed people who were often forced to live as refugees, whom they likened to a variety of ethnic groups.
Rick Berman Richard Keith Berman (born December 25, 1945) is an American television producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work as the executive producer of several of the ''Star Trek'' television series: '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', '' ...
, who helped to originally conceive them, compared them to "The
Kurds Kurds (), or the Kurdish people, are an Iranian peoples, Iranic ethnic group from West Asia. They are indigenous to Kurdistan, which is a geographic region spanning southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northeastern Syri ...
, the
Palestinians Palestinians () are an Arab ethnonational group native to the Levantine region of Palestine. *: "Palestine was part of the first wave of conquest following Muhammad's death in 632 CE; Jerusalem fell to the Caliph Umar in 638. The indigenou ...
, the Jews in the 1940s, the
boat people Vietnamese boat people () were refugees who fled Vietnam by boat and ship following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. This migration and humanitarian crisis was at its highest in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but continued well into the earl ...
from
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—unfortunately, the homeless and terrorism are problems in every age."
Ronald D. Moore Ronald Dowl Moore (born July 5, 1964) is an American screenwriter and television producer. He is best known for his work on ''Star Trek,'' as well as on the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' television series, for which he won a Peabody Awar ...
similarly commented, "depending on the episode, you could also call Bajor
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
, or
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, or even
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and the
Cardassians The Cardassians () are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They were devised in 1991 for the series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' before being used in the subsequent series '' St ...
could be
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, or
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or several other examples... utwe don't really try to make Bajor a direct analogy to any specific contemporary country or people." Various Bajoran characters were included in several of the ''Star Trek'' series, including
Ro Laren Ro Laren is a fictional character appearing on a recurring basis in the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons of the American science-fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. The character returned for the third season of ...
(played by
Michelle Forbes Michelle Renee Forbes Guajardo (born January 8, 1965) is an American actress who has appeared on television and in independent films. She is a Saturn Award winner with three nominations. Forbes first garnered attention for her dual role in t ...
) in ''The Next Generation'' as well as a number of others in ''Deep Space Nine'', which was set on a space station near to Bajor, and which featured Bajoran characters such as
Kira Nerys Kira Nerys ( ) is a fictional character in the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). She was played by actress Nana Visitor. The character is from the fictional planet Bajor, a world which has ...
(
Nana Visitor Nana Visitor ( ; born Nana Tucker; July 26, 1957), is an American actress, best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' and Jean Ritter in the television series ''Wildfire''. Early life Nana Tucker ...
) and
Winn Adami This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
(
Louise Fletcher Estelle Louise Fletcher (July 22, 1934 – September 23, 2022) was an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of the antagonist Nurse Ratched in the film '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975), which earned her numero ...
).


Storyline

According to the fictional storyline of the ''Star Trek'' universe, the Bajorans are an ancient species who developed advanced technology before the evolution of humanity on Earth." Ensign Ro". '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Season Five. They eventually developed space-faring ships, which took them as far away as the planet of
Cardassia The Cardassians () are a fictional Extraterrestrial life in popular culture, extraterrestrial species in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They were devised in 1991 for the series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' before b ...
. In 2318 the Cardassian Union, which had been taken over by a
military dictatorship A military dictatorship, or a military regime, is a type of dictatorship in which Power (social and political), power is held by one or more military officers. Military dictatorships are led by either a single military dictator, known as a Polit ...
, invaded Bajor, occupying it for fifty years, during which time they forced many Bajorans into
slave labor Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
, using them in their various mining operations. This forced many Bajorans to flee and live in refugee camps away from Cardassian domination, while other Bajorans became involved in the resistance movement, organising
terrorist Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...
attacks against Cardassian targets. The
Federation A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...
could not intervene in the situation, due to
Prime Directive In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'', the Prime Directive (also known as "Starfleet General Order 1", and the "non-interference directive") is a guiding principle of Starfleet that prohibits its members from interfering with the natural dev ...
considerations; since Bajor had formally aligned itself with the Cardassians some time before, it was considered an internal matter between the Cardassian Union and a member/subject planet. This caused some resentment towards the Federation by the Bajoran people, especially when the Federation was initially invited to administer
Deep Space Nine ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') is an American science fiction on television, science-fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired Broad ...
. This latent anger led to the formation of the Circle, an anti Non Bajorian movement which almost succeeded in capturing
Deep Space Nine ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') is an American science fiction on television, science-fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired Broad ...
-until the "Circle" was exposed as being secretly supported by the Cardassians so that a Bajor without Federation Support would be severely weakened. In 2369, the Cardassian civilian authorities ordered the military to withdraw from Bajor, after which the Bajoran Provisional Government invited the
United Federation of Planets In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'', the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly re ...
to set up base on the former Cardassian mining station of Terok Nor, renaming it
Deep Space Nine ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') is an American science fiction on television, science-fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired Broad ...
, and requesting membership into the Federation. In 2369, when
Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...
(later
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
)
Benjamin Sisko Benjamin Lafayette Sisko is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise portrayed by Avery Brooks. He was the main character of the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9''), which was originally broadcast between 199 ...
was assigned command of DS9, one of his instructions was to prepare Bajor for full membership into the Federation (pilot episode: "
Emissary Emissary may refer to: __NOTOC__ Arts and entertainment Star Trek * Benjamin Sisko, the Emissary of the Prophets, the Bajorans' gods * "Emissary" (''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''), the pilot episode of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' * "The Em ...
"). This was a long-running theme during the rest of the series. In 2373, with the
Dominion War The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in several story arcs of '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures. In the fictional ''Star Trek'' universe, the Dominion ...
on the horizon, Bajor asks to be admitted to the Federation under special circumstances. Sisko, acting as Emissary of the Prophets, warned that if Bajor were to join the Federation at that time, it would mean the destruction of that world. With this warning, Bajor decided not to accept membership at that time. At the start of the Dominion War, Bajor officially declared their neutrality (" Call to Arms"), although many Bajorans joined Starfleet and, as well, a new resistance to the occupation of Deep Space Nine was formed.


Biology

Like many aliens on ''Star Trek'', the Bajorans are human-like in appearance, but have a distinctive symmetrical facial feature: a series of horizontal ridges on the bridge of the nose between the eyes. Despite their human-like appearance, there are several biological differences between the two species. During pregnancy, Bajoran women experience uncontrollable sneezing fits in lieu of morning sickness. Bajoran women gestate for five months, as opposed to the nine months of human women, due to high
vascularization Vascularisation is the physiological process through which blood vessels form in tissues or organs. Vascularisation is crucial to supply the organs and tissues with an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients and for removing waste products. Bloo ...
between the
fetus A fetus or foetus (; : fetuses, foetuses, rarely feti or foeti) is the unborn offspring of a viviparous animal that develops from an embryo. Following the embryonic development, embryonic stage, the fetal stage of development takes place. Pren ...
and the mother. As a result, any attempt to remove the fetus prematurely, especially during the later stages of pregnancy, would cause massive blood loss to the mother and severe distress to the baby (" Body Parts"). During childbirth, Bajoran women must be completely relaxed. Their body produces
endorphins Endorphins (contracted from endogenous morphine) are peptides produced in the brain that block the perception of pain and increase feelings of wellbeing. They are produced and stored in the pituitary gland of the brain. Endorphins are endogeno ...
during labor, and thus they commonly feel little or no pain during the process. Typically, labor only lasts an hour, but if it goes on too long, the body stops producing endorphins lest they rise to toxic levels, and the baby will have to be born at a later time ("
The Begotten "The Begotten" is the 110th episode of the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 12th episode of the fifth season. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on the Starfleet-managed space station Deep Space N ...
").


Culture and traditions

Bajoran tradition places the family name before the given name. Thus,
Kira Nerys Kira Nerys ( ) is a fictional character in the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). She was played by actress Nana Visitor. The character is from the fictional planet Bajor, a world which has ...
is called Major Kira (not Major Nerys); likewise,
Ro Laren Ro Laren is a fictional character appearing on a recurring basis in the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons of the American science-fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. The character returned for the third season of ...
(Ensign Ro). Bajorans typically consider it an honor when they are addressed correctly by offworlders. Bajorans' spiritual lives center around the Orbs—alien objects believed to have been sent by the Prophets (the gods)—each of which has a unique ability such as the Orb of Time, which allows those viewing it to revisit past events. Nine orbs have been discovered over the centuries (plus the Orb of the Emissary, during the final season episode " Shadows and Symbols"); eight were seized by the Cardassians during the Occupation. In the series there are ten orbs although only five are named: the Orb of Prophecy and Change, which was kept on Bajor; the Orbs of Contemplation and of Time, which the Cardassians returned to Bajor; the Orb of Wisdom, which the Ferengi sold to Bajor; and the Orb of the Emissary, which Sisko found. A non-canonical novel names the other five Orbs as the Orbs of Memory, Destiny, Souls, Truth, and Unity. The Bajoran people were originally divided into
castes A caste is a fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (endogamy), foll ...
, called ''d'jarras'', that dictated a person's place in Bajoran society; members of a lower-ranking ''d'jarra'' were expected to defer to those of a higher caste. When the Occupation began, the ''d'jarra'' system was abolished as the resistance movement encouraged all Bajorans to unite, regardless of caste. When the former Bajoran spiritual leader, Akorem Laan, attempted to reintroduce the caste system, it was rejected because it would have made Bajor ineligible for Federation membership (caste-based discrimination is forbidden under Federation law). Bajorans wear large, chained earrings and ear cuffs called ''d'ja pagh'' on their right ears, as symbols of their religious faith. Before the war against Cardassian occupation, the earring also symbolized one's ''d'jarra''. Even after the Occupation, there were still different styles of earrings passed down through families, but they had lost their original significance. When Akorem Laan encountered Major Kira, he recognized from the style of her earring that she is a member of the artisan ''d'jarra'', even though she was a member of the military, and she explained that the different styles of earring no longer signified anything. Ro Laren lost her faith because of her experiences while a Cardassian Prisoner; yet, still defiantly Bajoran, she wears her ''d'ja pagh'' on her left ear. It's later discovered that Ro also used her earring as a covert data storage device which she gave to Jean-Luc Picard shortly before her death. Bajoran cuisine is not unlike that of many other races. Many Bajorans are fond of hasperat, which is almost identical in taste and texture to that of a large (and often spicy) Earth
burrito A burrito (, ) or burro in Mexico is, historically, a regional name, among others, for what is known as a taco, a tortilla filled with food, in other parts of the country. The term ''burrito'' was regional, specifically from Guanajuato, Guerre ...
prepared in a special brine. Jumja sticks are large, dark red, roughly diamond-shaped popsicle-like sweet confectionery treats, though some other races, like Romulans, have commented that they can be a little too sweet. In addition to various ales, Bajorans have been known to make an alcoholic beverage known as spring wine, which very much like other wines, has vintage years, and the quality of the wine can vary from year to year, and bottles from a particularly good vintage year can become sought-after collector's items among high-ranking Bajorans. Also, humans serving aboard Deep Space Nine would frequently order Terran seafood dishes with Bajoran Shrimp as a substitute, since replication issues aside, transporting shrimp from Earth would be impractical, given the travel time involved.


Bajor

Bajor ( or ) is the
homeworld ''Homeworld'' is a real-time strategy video game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra Studios on September 28, 1999, for Windows. Set in space, the science fiction game follows the Kushan exiles of the planet Kharak after t ...
of the Bajorans. Bajor is a Class M planet with five moons. A day on Bajor lasts 26 hours, and Deep Space Nine also follows a 26-hour day. Bajor's oceans viewed from space appear more green than blue. Bajor, the seventh planet in the system, orbits the star Bajor-B'hava'el in the Bajoran sector. Other inhabited planets in the Bajoran
star system A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars that orbit each other, bound by gravity, gravitational attraction. It may sometimes be used to refer to a single star. A large group of stars bound by gravitation is generally calle ...
include Andros (Bajor VIII), a Class K planet (similar to
Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...
) and the fifth moon of Bajor, Jeraddo.


Religion

The Bajoran religion, also called The Way of the Prophets, is a major unifying force on the planet. This religion is unusual in that the deities and other phenomena associated with the religion, though treated as supernatural, can also be understood as beings in the material world accessible by scientific observations.


Prophets

The Prophets, or "the wormhole aliens" (as they are referred to by most non-Bajorans) exist within the wormhole connecting the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, the Alpha Quadrant end being located within the Bajoran solar system. This wormhole is referred to as the Celestial Temple by the Bajoran people. The Prophets experience time differently, with their first (known) encounter with corporeal beings (Benjamin Sisko) resulting in a long and confusing conversation as to how linear time works. Their motives remain unclear; on several occasions they proclaim their disinterest in the physical world, though they do repeatedly intervene on behalf of Bajor and its people. The Prophets are the creators of sacred objects called Orbs or "Tears of the Prophets". The orbs induce visions ("Orb Experiences") in people.


Pagh

Another aspect of the religion is that of the Pagh (immortal soul). If a person has followed the will of the Prophets, their Pagh is "clean" and they will be permitted to enter the Celestial Temple and dwell with the Prophets. Bajoran spiritual leaders such as Kais and Vedeks can feel the Pagh of another by pinching the lobe of one's ear, though many find this scrutiny to be slightly unsettling. One's Pagh can also be stolen by the Pagh Wraiths, members of the race of "wormhole aliens" who have been expelled from the wormhole. The Wraiths, also known as Kosst Amojan (Bajoran for "to be expelled"), work against the Prophets, trying to enforce their own claim that they are the true gods of Bajor.


Practices

Religious practices are unclear. The Bajoran religion involves regular services which are intended to teach the "Will of the Prophets". Meditation and prayer (either in groups or privately) are commonly used, but not strictly observed. There are some orthodox groups within the religion who take a rather dim view of science (more specifically a scientific interpretation of the wormhole) and the beliefs of other species, but this is a small minority, with relatively little support among the people. In the ''Next Generation'' episode "
The Next Phase "The Next Phase" is the 124th episode of the American syndicated science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', the 24th episode of the fifth season. It aired in syndication on May 18, 1992. Set in the 24th century, th ...
", Ro Laren mentions that some traditional Bajoran funeral rites can go on for over three hours. Bajoran women cry out their grief at Funerals—similar to Irish
keening Keening (, ) is a traditional form of vocal lament for the dead in the Gaelic Celtic tradition, known to have taken place in Ireland and Scotland. Keening, which can be seen as a form of sean-nós singing, is performed in the Irish and Scotti ...
. Prior to the events of ''Deep Space Nine'', Bajoran society was socially
stratified Stratification may refer to: Mathematics * Stratification (mathematics), any consistent assignment of numbers to predicate symbols * Data stratification in statistics Earth sciences * Stable and unstable stratification * Stratification, or st ...
; by religious edict, a person's place in society was determined by their caste (or ''d'jara'') (Kira Nerys would have been an artist if not for the Cardassian occupation). When the Cardassian Empire occupied Bajor, the ''d'jara'' system was abandoned so all Bajoran citizens could become soldiers and fight in the Resistance. When Akorem Laan attempted to reinstate the ''d'jara'' system in 2372, Bajor's application for Federation membership was put in jeopardy, as caste-based discrimination was specifically forbidden by the Federation Charter. The non-canon Deep Space Nine Relaunch novels reveal the existence of a form of excommunication from the Bajoran faith: when Kira Nerys interferes in a growing civil war, despite being ordered not to do so by the Vedek Assembly, she is declared "attainted" and can no longer attend Bajoran services, set foot in a temple, or study from an Orb or the Bajoran sacred texts.


Hierarchy

The hierarchy of the Bajoran faith has never been explained in great detail, though a certain amount is known: Titles in the Bajoran religion include a "Prylar" (roughly equivalent to a
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
monk A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...
), "Ranjen" (a rank falling between Prylars and the next rank, and responsible for a variety of tasks), "Mylar" (priest or minister, mentioned in " Ties of Blood and Water"), "Vedek" (cardinal, bishop) and " Kai" (equivalent to the pope in
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
theology or
Patriarch The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and ...
in the
Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...
theology). All these ranks are open both to men and to women, and clerics are free to marry and have children. Vedeks, the second highest level, also make up the Vedek Assembly, the committee which is responsible for the spiritual issues of the Bajoran people. A new Kai is elected by the Vedek Assembly (loosely analogous to how the
College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals (), also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. there are cardinals, of whom are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Appointed by the pope, ...
elects a new pope) from among those in the Assembly. The Kai is the spiritual leader. She or he has a great deal of influence on the Bajoran government despite having no official power. After Kai Opaka departed in 2369, the election of a new Kai from the members of the Vedek Assembly led to the election of Kai Winn, who remained Kai until her demise in 2375. The central figure in the Bajoran faith is known as "the Emissary", a being believed to be sent by the Prophets to aid Bajor. Benjamin Sisko, a human Starfleet officer, filled this role when he made first contact with the beings believed by the Bajorans to be the Prophets, and the enigmatic beings spoke to him on several other occasions, either to deliver a message or fulfill a task. Although his role was never entirely clear (and Sisko himself was visibly uncomfortable with it for the first few years), the Bajorans respected and admired Sisko as their Emissary, and he carried Bajor through several hardships. In this respect, the Emissary nominally holds even more religious and secular power than the Kai or the First Minister. For example, even the politically ambitious Kai Winn sought religious guidance from the Emissary, and Akorem Laan was able to single-handedly reinstate the observance of the obsolete ''D'Jarra'' caste system in 2372 when he briefly claimed the title of Emissary.


Pagh Wraiths

The Pagh Wraiths (also spelled Pah Wraiths), Bajoran for Soul Wraiths, are the enemies of the
Bajoran Prophets The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , )Script notes
specify "bah-JOR-an" and "BAY-jor" as the correc ...
. Bajoran religious texts state that the Pagh Wraiths once resided in the Celestial Temple (the
Bajoran wormhole Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
) alongside the Prophets and, like them, are non-corporeal beings. However, they were expelled from the Celestial Temple and banished to the Fire Caves on
Bajor The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , )Script notes
specify "bah-JOR-an" and "BAY-jor" as the correc ...
. According to ancient Bajoran texts, the Pagh Wraiths were "false Prophets". Whereas the Prophets are analogous to angels or even gods, the Pagh Wraiths are analogous to demons. Similarly to Christianity's
Satan Satan, also known as the Devil, is a devilish entity in Abrahamic religions who seduces humans into sin (or falsehood). In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God, typically regarded as a metaphor for the '' yetzer hara'', or ' ...
, Kosst Amojan ("The Evil One") was a Prophet who was forced out of the Celestial Temple after a failed attempt to seize control, with the other Pagh Wraiths, which are similar to fallen angels in Christianity. In several other incidents, the Pagh Wraiths attempted to leave their physical prison (the "Caves of Fire") and return to take control of the Celestial Temple, but none of these attempts succeeded. There continues to be a minority group on Bajor who worship the Pagh Wraiths as the True Prophets, but they are generally shunned as outcasts and heretics. Despite this, the
cult Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...
of the Pagh Wraiths became more popular on Bajor as an alternative religion to that of the Prophets, after many Bajorans felt the Prophets had abandoned them due to the closure of the wormhole. For a time, Dukat even formed his own Pagh Wraith cult on the abandoned space station
Empok Nor "Empok Nor" is the 122nd episode of the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 24th episode of the fifth season. The episode aired on television on May 19, 1997. The screenplay was written by Bryan Fuller and Hans Beimler, and i ...
, with himself as leader. Like the Prophets, they are able to induce visions in corporeal beings, appearing as familiar figures as the Prophets do in such visions. The Pagh Wraiths long for revenge against the Prophets who cast them out of the Celestial Temple (the wormhole), even going so far as to possess the bodies of corporeal beings to further their goals:
Keiko O'Brien Keiko O'Brien (born Keiko Ishikawa) is a character in the fictional ''Star Trek'' universe, played by actress Rosalind Chao. Introduced in 1991, she is the civilian spouse of Starfleet crew member Miles O'Brien (Star Trek), Miles O'Brien (played ...
, wife of
Deep Space Nine ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') is an American science fiction on television, science-fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired Broad ...
's Chief of Operations Miles O'Brien, was briefly possessed by a Pagh Wraith in a nearly successful attempt to destroy the Prophets (episode: " The Assignment"); Miles instead directed the energy charge at Keiko O'Brien which destroyed the evil spirit and freed his wife. In the episode " The Reckoning", the Emissary (
Benjamin Sisko Benjamin Lafayette Sisko is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise portrayed by Avery Brooks. He was the main character of the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9''), which was originally broadcast between 199 ...
) released a Pagh Wraith and a Prophet from an ancient artifact. These beings fought on the Gates to the Celestial Temple (the space station Deep Space Nine). In the fight, a Prophet possessed the (willing) body of Kira Nerys while the Pagh Wraith possessed the (unwilling) body of
Jake Sisko Jake Sisko is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. He appears in the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') and is portrayed by actor Cirroc Lofton. He is the son of '' Deep Space Nine'' commanding offic ...
. In " Tears of the Prophets";
Gul Dukat Dukat is a fictional character from the television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. A member of the fictional Cardassian species, he is introduced as the former overseer of the series' namesake space station but goes on to become the lead ...
unleashed a Pagh Wraith from an ancient relic that possessed his body. While possessed, Dukat proceeded to kill
Jadzia Dax Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, is a fictional character from the science-fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Jadzia Dax is a joined Trill. Though she appears to be a young woman, Jadzia lives in symbiosis with a l ...
and use the Orb of Contemplation on Deep Space Nine to enable the Pagh Wraith to re-enter the wormhole and seal the entrance. However, when Sisko found the Orb of the Emissary some months later (in " Shadows and Symbols"), the wormhole reopened, and the Pagh Wraith was again cast out. In the series finale, "
What You Leave Behind "What You Leave Behind" is the series finale of the television show ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 175th and 176th episodes, the 25th and 26th episodes of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7, seventh season. The episode was written by ...
", Dukat and
Winn Adami This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
attempt to free the Pagh Wraiths from their prison by deciphering an ancient text written in the Book of the Kosst Amojan which acts as a key. Winn, who had briefly abandoned her faith in the Prophets after she had a vision from the Pagh Wraiths, ultimately undergoes a change of heart, but she is killed by Dukat as she tries to stop him. The wraiths are defeated when, with help from the Prophets, Sisko casts himself, Dukat and the Kosst Amojan into the Fire Caves, destroying the ancient book; Dukat is trapped forever with the Pagh Wraiths while Sisko becomes part of the Prophets.


Politics


Provisional Government

The provisional government was set up after the occupation of Bajor by Cardassia ended in 2369. It consisted of a council of elected officials headed by the First Minister and was responsible for administration of the planet and to a certain extent Deep Space Nine. A three-part arc, "
The Homecoming ''The Homecoming'' is a two-act play written in 1964 and published in 1965 by Harold Pinter. Its premières in London (1965) and New York (1967) were both directed by Sir Peter Hall. The original Broadway production won the 1967 Tony Award ...
", " The Circle", and "
The Siege ''The Siege'' is a 1998 American action thriller film directed by Edward Zwick. The film is about a situation in which terrorist cells have made several attacks in New York City. The film stars Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Tony Shalhoub ...
", featured a story about the Provisional Government and its inability to resolve an explosive political revolution. In the immediate aftermath of the Cardassian withdrawal, many characters felt the provisional government would collapse within a matter of weeks, leading to civil war (which the Cardassians might use as an excuse to return to "restore order"). Sisko managed to convince Kai Opaka to declare the support of the Bajoran religious hierarchy for the new government, which prevented it from outright collapsing. In the early seasons of the TV series the provisional government is shaky and precarious, but over time by the later seasons of the TV series it grew more stable, particularly after the election of First Minister Shakaar.


Bajoran Militia

The Bajoran Militia was the military arm of the Bajoran Provisional Government, originally made up of many former resistance fighters from the Occupation of Bajor. The structure was comparable to that of an Earth army, with similar ranks. Bajoran officers were organized by divisional specialty, wearing different uniform colors for each (similar to
Starfleet Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduct ...
). Flag officers wear a more elaborate version of the normal duty uniform. Officers of the Militia were usually graduates of the Bajoran Military Academy, although many commissions were awarded on the basis of demonstrated skills and merit of the soldiers who were part of the resistance against the occupation. The Militia jointly operated Deep Space Nine with Starfleet. From 2369 to 2375 the station was commanded by a Starfleet command level officer and the executive officer was a Militia member. When the station's commander, Captain Sisko, disappeared in late 2375, his executive, Colonel Kira, took command. It was said in the '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' episode "
Rapture The Rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Chr ...
" that if Bajor joins the
United Federation of Planets In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'', the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly re ...
, most of the Bajoran Militia would be absorbed into
Starfleet Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduct ...
. In the non-canonical
relaunch Relaunch (March 16, 1976 – November 5, 1996) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Background Relaunch was a gray horse bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm & Taylor Made Farms. During his racing career he was owned by Glen Hill ...
novel ''Unity'', this happened in 2376. Notable members of the Bajoran Militia included Major Kira and
Odo Odo is a name typically associated with historical figures from the Middle Ages and before. Odo is etymologically related to the names Otho and Otto, and to the French name Odon and modern version Eudes, and to the Italian names Ottone and Udo; a ...
.


Kai

The Kai is the spiritual leader of the Bajoran people. This individual could be either male or female, could be married, and could have children. The Kai is chosen in an election held by the entire Bajoran people, though typically candidates come from the
Vedek The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , )Script notes
specify "bah-JOR-an" and "BAY-jor" as the correc ...
assembly of high-ranking clerics. He or she also seems to hold a fair amount of political influence on Bajor; the government is headed by a First Minister although Bajorans typically will listen to whatever the Kai says. When
Starfleet Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduct ...
forces initially arrived at
Deep Space Nine ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') is an American science fiction on television, science-fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired Broad ...
, the Kai was a woman named
Opaka Sulan This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
. She introduced Commander Sisko to an Orb or Tear of the Prophets, and was the first to refer to him openly as "the Emissary". Opaka was officially declared missing during an escorted trip through the Bajoran wormhole, when she discovered two feuding Gamma Quadrant races and elected to remain with them in hopes of negotiating a peaceful resolution to their conflict. In time, two leading candidates emerged to succeed her. One was Vedek
Winn Adami This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
—a member of a small conservative order on Bajor who harbored anti-
Federation A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...
feelings. The other was Vedek
Bareil Antos This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
, who counseled then-Vedek Winn and convinced her to adopt a more conciliatory attitude toward the Federation and Commander Sisko. Bareil was considered the most likely candidate to succeed Kai Opaka, but political maneuvering by Kai Winn forced him to resign his candidacy. Kai Winn later tried to consolidate her hold on power after the death of the Bajoran First Minister, reneging on an agreement the previous government had made with several destitute Bajoran farmers and risking civil war in the process. Major Kira of DS9 convinced her old friend and resistance cell leader
Shakaar Edon This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televis ...
to run for election in opposition to Kai Winn to block her from obtaining total control of the Bajoran government. Kai Winn withdrew when Kira threatened to expose Winn's duplicity, and Shakaar was elected to the post of First Minister. Later, at the beginning of the
Dominion War The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in several story arcs of '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures. In the fictional ''Star Trek'' universe, the Dominion ...
, Captain Sisko convinced Kai Winn, as well as the Council of Ministers, to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Dominion; Sisko wanted to ensure Bajor was kept out of the fighting so everything they had accomplished in the past five years wouldn't be destroyed by the war. With the end of the Dominion War in sight, Kai Winn was tempted to join with Dukat—who had been surgically altered to look like a Bajoran—in worshipping the Pagh Wraiths. When she discovered who the man really was, she was devastated by having fallen for the deception. When she sought Colonel Kira's advice, Kira advised Winn she could be redeemed if she stepped down from the post, but Winn refused. Kai Winn turned away from the Prophets, and became a tool of the Pagh Wraiths. In the final moments of her life, she tried to throw the Book of the Kosst-Amojan into the pit of fire. She was then killed by Dukat. In the non-canon MMORPG ''Star Trek Online'', set thirty years after the events of ''Deep Space Nine'', it is implied that Kira Nerys eventually became Kai.


First Minister

The First Minister of Bajor is a role analogous to a
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
on Earth, and is a separate office from the religious leader, the Kai. The First Minister is the Bajoran
head of government In the Executive (government), executive branch, the head of government is the highest or the second-highest official of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presid ...
and
head of state A head of state is the public persona of a sovereign state.#Foakes, Foakes, pp. 110–11 "
he head of state He or HE may refer to: Language * He (letter), the fifth letter of the Semitic abjads * He (pronoun), a pronoun in Modern English * He (kana), one of the Japanese kana (へ in hiragana and ヘ in katakana) * Ge (Cyrillic), a Cyrillic letter cal ...
being an embodiment of the State itself or representative of its international persona." The name given to the office of head of sta ...
, and also serves as the head of the Chamber of Ministers, the Bajoran legislature. (A separate organization, the Vedek Assembly, serves as an advisory body to the Kai.) ;Office-holders since 2370 * Jaro Essa * Kalem Apren *
Winn Adami This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
(acting) *
Shakaar Edon This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televis ...


Federation membership

In the ''Deep Space Nine'' premiere episode "Emissary", Captain
Jean Luc Picard Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, most often seen as the commanding officer of the Federation starship . Played by Patrick Stewart, Picard has appeared in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Gene ...
informs Benjamin Sisko that one of his tasks as commander of DS9 is to develop a continuing evaluation of Bajor for potential membership in the
United Federation of Planets In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'', the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly re ...
. In the episode "
Rapture The Rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Chr ...
", Federation membership of Bajor is an important plot-point. Later, in the non-canon ''Deep Space Nine'' relaunch novels, Bajor finally joins the Federation. Most of the Bajoran Militia are absorbed into
Starfleet Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduct ...
, with Colonel Kira (now commanding DS9) promoted to captain. Also, the Bajoran government (here named the Third Republic of Bajor) begins selecting a councillor to represent Bajor on the Federation Council. In the '' Star Trek: Picard'' pilot episode, a star map shows the planet Bajor within the bounds of Federation territory, suggesting that by the year 2399 (when the episode takes place), Bajor has indeed joined the Federation.


Bajorans

The first Bajoran to appear on Star Trek was Ro Laren, in the episode " Ensign Ro". * Keeve Folor, refugee leader, Valo II (Episode: TNG "Ensign Ro"; played by
Scott Marlowe Scott Marlowe (born Ronald Richard DeLeo; June 24, 1932 – January 6, 2001)''Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014''. Social Security Administration. was an American actor. He had starring roles in the teen exploitation film '' The Cool and th ...
) * Kai Opaka Sulan * Kai
Winn Adami This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
* Vedek
Bareil Antos This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televisi ...
* First Minister
Shakaar Edon This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televis ...
* Major (later Colonel)
Kira Nerys Kira Nerys ( ) is a fictional character in the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). She was played by actress Nana Visitor. The character is from the fictional planet Bajor, a world which has ...
* Ensign (later Commander)
Ro Laren Ro Laren is a fictional character appearing on a recurring basis in the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons of the American science-fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. The character returned for the third season of ...
*
Li Nalas Li, li, or LI may refer to: Businesses and organizations * Landscape Institute, a British professional body for landscape architects * Leadership Institute, a non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia, US, that teaches "political tec ...
* Dr.
Mora Pol This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televis ...
* Ensign
Sito Jaxa Sito may refer to: *SITO (artist collective) * Sito (footballer, born 1980), real name Luis Castro Rodríguez, Spanish football defender * Sito (footballer, born 1996), real name Andrés Pascual Santoja, Spanish football winger People with the su ...
*
Tora Ziyal This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televis ...
(half-Bajoran, half-Cardassian) *
Leeta This is a list of characters from the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Only characters who played a significant major role in the series are listed. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' was a science fiction televis ...
* Akorem Laan, 22nd century poet * Tahna Los * Tal Celes * Shaxs


Reception

In 2017, ''
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
'' ranked Bajorans the 5th best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.


Analysis

The Bajorans as analogues to oppressed people of Earth has been widely studied, as has the portrayal of Bajorans as righteous, religious "freedom fighters".


References


External links

{{Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Fictional elements introduced in 1991 Fictional humanoids Religion in science fiction Star Trek species