Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (BUDDHIST RITUALS, HOLIDAYS AND PILGRIMAGE)

In Kalmykia people celebrate three major holidays, including Tsagan Sar, Ur(s) Sar, and Zul, each considered both national (secular) and religious holidays. On these days, Buddhist temples hold large prayer services, and people celebrate both at the temple and at home. Other celebrations that are on the religious calendar are the ritual of inviting Buddha Maitreya, the ritual of circumventing a temple with Gandzhur and Dandzhur texts, the Dalai Lama’s birthday, and others.

Rituals that combine Buddhist and pre-Buddhist beliefs and which are dedicated to ancestors, local spirits and Buddhist deities constitute seasonal rituals of gal tyalgn (fire rituals), gazr us tyaklgn (rituals dedicated to masters of water and land), usn arshan (rituals performed to secure the rain, good harvest, a successful fishing trip, etc.) and several others.

Among Buddhist rituals the construction of sand mandalas and the dance of tsam stand out in terms of elaboration and visual effects. Both are performed by Tibetan monks who come to Kalmykia for these occasions at the invitation of the Central Temple.

Pilgrimage is an inseparable part of Buddhism. In the past the main destination for Kalmyk pilgrims was Tibet, whereas today many go on a pilgrimage not only to distant places such as India, Mongolia and Buryatia, but to nearby locations, including the Mount Bogdo and Khoshutovskiy Temple, both of which are in the neighboring Astrakhan oblast. In recent years trips to listen to the Dalai Lama’s teachings held in Baltic countries are also becoming popular.