Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Project (ZUL): Recent Episodes
Cambridge University
For Kalmyks, Zul is equivalent to New Year’s Day in that it marks the first day of a new year according to Kalmyk lunar calendar. In Kalmyk ‘zul’ means a candle. On this day people make a number of candlewicks (zulyn gol) according to their age and stick them on small boat-shaped candles made of dough. Each person has their own candle. The candles are lit up when the first stars appear in the sky. On this day Kalmyks add a year to their age. According to some local beliefs, however, it is only women and children that add a year to their age on Zul day, whereas men do so a few days after the holiday.
During Zul people are encouraged to perform good deeds, wish each other well, and abstain from alcohol and meat products. In the morning Kalmyks brew traditional tea (jomba) and bake traditional biscuits (bortsg). Before partaking of food, fresh tea and some biscuits are placed on the altar as an offering to gods and ancestors. It is believed that the aroma of the biscuits drives all the bad and negative things from the house and brings good luck and prosperity.
Given Buddhism is intertwined with every aspect of the life of Kalmyks, Zul is also a holiday to commemorate the birth, life and ascent of Zongkhapa (1357-1419), the founder of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism, to nirvana. Prior to Zul the Kalmyks go to monasteries for a special ritual called nas uttullgn to prolong life. On the day of Zul itself monasteries carry out prayers, including those dedicated to Zongkhapa, and light candles as an offering to the great Buddhist teacher.
Five to six days after Zul, Kalmyks celebrate the arrival of the Master of the Year (jilin ezn), which is believed to be a ritual of shamanic origin. In order not to create obstacles in his way, Kalmyks do not take out rubbish for several days. During the celebration of jilin ezn, families invite their older relatives to their homes and also congratulate their men on becoming a year older. During this period people try to avoid making long journeys.
Tatyana talks about Zul and Tsagan Sar. During Zul, Kalmyks perform a ‘ritual to prolong their lives’. People make candles from dough and stick candlewicks made from grass blades into these candles. The number of grass blades in a candlewick should be 2 to 3 blades more than the actual age of the person to whom the wick is dedicated. Each member of the family has a separate wick for themselves. All wicks are placed together on a single candle. The head of the family lights the candlewicks outside the house as soon as the first stars appear in the sky. After that he offers tea libations to the lama Tsongkapa. During Zul people do not eat. By contrast, people eat meat during Tsagan Sar; but the animal should be slaughtered several days before the start of the celebrations. Tsagan Sar celebrates two events, namely (1) the return of the goddess Okn Tengri from the land of monsters and (2) the beginning of the spring. During Tsagan Sar, temples carry out large scale prayers, and people toss fat into fire as an offering to Okn Tengri. After her stories, Tatyana utters well-wishes that people say to each other during Zul and performs a song dedicated to Zul.
Angira says that during Zul people light candles and put offerings on the altar. The candlewicks should consist of the same number of grass blades as the age of the person to whom the candlewicks are dedicated. The candles are ignited in the evening after stars appear in the sky. During Zul and Tsagan Sar people pay each other visit, drink tea, eat food, and utter well-wishes.
Bosya says the following: For Zul people made candles called ‘a boat of life’. The candlewicks were made from wild grass stalks. Each wick had the same number of grass stalks as the age of the person to whom it was dedicated. Each member of the family had his/her wick. All the candlewicks were put together, wrapped in cotton, and stuck into the candle.
Alexandr talks about candlewicks and a ritual performed at weddings which involves singing a song by holding a cup of vodka in one’s hand:
Zoya says that all holidays are connected with Buddhism. Zul is a birthday during which all women add a year to their age. The week after Zul, called ‘Jilin Noyon’ (Master of the Year), is when men add a year to their age. At Tsagan Sar people bake biscuits and visit each other. ‘Togshi’ biscuits are tied together with a thread to form gift bundles. People give each other these bundles.
Tsagan says that her native village of Shin-Mer has 120 families. Before national holidays, people clean their courtyards, prepare their festive costumes, and make biscuits. On the day of a celebration itself, people make tea in the morning, light candles and read prayers. Old people visit younger villagers and give children candies. During Tsagan Sar, which is celebrated at the beginning of spring, it is also customary to exchange biscuits with each other. Maternal relatives are supposed to be given a special kind of biscuit called ‘kelkyatya bortsg’ as well as a cooked sheep’s leg (symbolizing women’s joining their husbands’ clan). At the end of the interview, Tsagan utters a well-wish dedicated to the holiday of Tsagan Sar.
Galina says that during Zul Kalmyks light candles, recite prayers and cook festive food, including milk tea, biscuits, meat, soup, bulmg, etc. They welcome and feed their guests. Tsagan Sar is also a great holiday during which people fry various biscuit varieties, including tselvg, which symbolizes the sun. When Galina was a child, her grandmother made bundles of biscuits for each family and sent Galina to deliver them.
Mikhail reminisces about his childhood and relays a story about how people celebrated Zul and about his experience with Buddhism.
Kalmyks make bortsg biscuits for Zul, especially a variety called tselvg. Dough for tselvg is made without yeast by mixing milk and flour and adding sour cream or butter. Symbolizing the sun, tselvg has patched edges resembling sun rays and it should be offered to the altar. Other varieties of bortsg that are put on the altar are khuts, zhola, kit, and khorkha. After three days on the altar, bortsgs can be eaten. Kalmyks make bortsg and tea for Tsagan Sar as well. On this day they greet each other and visit their relatives. Women visit their husbands’ relatives and give them bortsg as a gift while saying, ‘I brought these bortsgs for you, my uncle’, ‘These bortsgs are for you, junior uncle’, or similar phrases.
Zul is a birthday celebration. Those who are born in the year of the Horse or Sheep need to perform a ritual to prolong their lives. This ritual is done as follows. Make candles in the form of a boat and light them at night when stars appear in the sky. Since it is believed that the Master of the Year migrates 4 days after Zul, it is forbidden to take anything out of the home during this time.
Vladimir says that Zul is a very important holiday for Kalmyks. People prepare for it in advance by procuring new clothes, cleaning their house, preparing gifts and making biscuits. During the holiday people visit each other’s houses and congratulate each other. In the past, people did not drink alcohol during Zul.
This video features a lesson dedicated to Zul held at the Russian National Gymnasium in Elista in December 2017.
This video features a concert dedicated to the national holiday of Zul held in Elista in December 2017. The performers are singers and dancers of Oiraty, the state dance theatre of Kalmykia. The concert starts with a religious ceremony performed by the monks from the Central Temple in Elista.
Ubush says that Zul is a Kalmyk version of New Year. It is the birthday of the Kalmyk people when all Kalmyks add a year to their actual age. In Kalmyk the word zul also means a candle. Ubush’s grandmother used to make small boat-shaped vessels from potatoes, stick wicks inside them and fill the vessels with hot butter. Apart from being a national birthday, Zul is also regarded as the birthday of the lama Tsongkapa. According to legend, one day the lama fell ill and was treated with Kalmyk tea. He recovered on the day of Zul and told the Kalmyks to drink this tea henceforth. On this day all Kalmyks are reminded of unity and that they belong to one and the same nation.
Zul is a holiday dedicated to the lama Tsongkapa. It is celebrated on the 25th day of the month of the Mouse.
The Kalmyks count one’s age from the time that a person was conceived. Hence during the holiday of Zul Kalmyks add a year to a person’s actual age. Zul is the Kalmyk equivalent of New Year. Zul also has a religious significance. It was on this day that Tsongkapa, the founder of Gelug school, is believed to have attained enlightenment. In this sense, Zul is a double holiday – New Year and the day when the spiritual leader of the Kalmyks attained enlightenment.
Maria says that the lama Tsongkapa was born in 1357. His parents were respectable and smart people. From the ages of 2 to 16 Tsongkapa was in Tibet, and at 24 he finished his religious education.
Maria says that the Kalmyks have always celebrated these two holidays. Traditionally, at Zul people make birthday candles and pray. These candles, called dendr, are made from dough in the shape of a small boat. The candles are lit when stars appear in the sky. After this ritual, these delicious candles are eaten. Birthday candles have grass stems stuck on top of them. The height of the grass should be four fingers high. Then the grass stems are wrapped in cotton and covered with hot melted butter. Men celebrate their birthdays 7 days after Zul. It is also believed that the Master of the Year migrates 3 days after Zul.
Raisa says that before Zul the Kalmyks tidy up their homes, wash clothes and make biscuits. On the day of Zul people wake up early in the morning, make tea, make offerings to gods and read prayers. One should read prayers for three days. Raisa prays to all Buddhist gods as well as to the spiritual masters of lakes, rivers and land. Her personal deity protector is Avalokiteshvara (Aryabal), whom she also prays. Birthday candles are made from dough and then melted butter is poured on top. The candles are lit after stars appear in the sky. What remains from the candles should not be thrown away but put outside for birds and animals to eat. During this holiday people pay visits to each other and congratulate each other on Zul. On this day, it is forbidden to eat poultry, eggs, fish or pork. Raisa says she eats lamb or beef only. Food varieties consumed during Zul are tea, bulmg, lamb, fruits and biscuits. It is believed that 7 days after Zul, the Master of the Year migrates.
This video features a religious ceremony held at the Central Temple in Elista on the occasion of the national holiday of Zul. The ceremony was held in December 2015.
The Shajin (Supreme) Lama of Kalmykia says that people often ask him about the upcoming new year. His reply is that people’s futures are in their own hands. He advices the audience to keep faith and have a hope that everything will be good. If people do kind deeds and have the correct motivation, he continues, it is possible to collect buyn (merit). The Kalmyks celebrate five national holidays each year, including Tsagan Sar, Zul, Ur Sar, the Day of the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma and the Descent of Buddha from Heaven. The Kalmyks have celebrated these holidays for centuries and all of them are related to Buddhism. Kalmyk culture, the Shajin Lama points out, is essentially a Buddhist culture. He also gives advice on how to celebrate Zul. On this day it is important to abstain from alcohol, do good deeds and read mantras for the wellbeing of all living beings. In the end the Shajin Lama congratulates the audience on the holiday of Zul. The prayers read at the Central Temple in Elista include the refuge in the Three Jewels, prayers dedicated to Tsongkapa, as well as prayers praising the good deeds of Tsongkapa, the Buddha and bodhisattvas.
Maria says that this year is the year of the Sheep and the coming year is that of the Monkey. She congratulates everyone on their birthdays and utters a well-wish.
Galina says that before Zul she performs a ritual for prolonging life in her family. In the morning, she makes two types of traditional biscuits and Kalmyk tea and offers them to gods. Then she offers tea to astral objects by sprinkling it to the skies while standing with her right leg outside the house and her left leg still inside the house. She holds the cup with tea in her right hand. She says that some people also use milk for this ritual.
This video shows how the national holiday of Zul was celebrated at the Central Temple in Elista in December 2014. It features a concert held outside the Temple, a religious service performed indoors, and a ritual of going around the Temple three times.
Lidia says that in the past people prepared birthday candles. Also, they made an extra candle with 9 grass stems, cooked tea and made offerings to gods. After 3 days, men celebrated their birthdays. Within 3 days following Zul it was forbidden to take out rubbish.
One has to hold a plate with cooked meat at the door, face the street and utter the following words: ‘Today we are all celebrating Zul In honor of Tsongkapa Let the scent from this hot meal reach our gods Let our gods bless us!’ Then the utterer should turn around and say as follows: ‘Oh, gods today we are all celebrating our birthdays Let all the bad go away and the good come’. The first prayer is addressed to all gods, whereas the second is dedicated to one’s clan and personal deities.
Nadvid says that Zul is a holiday dedicated to the lama Tsongkapa who was born in 1357. He died in 1420 and became a Buddha. His real name was Tsutsrhab. The place where he was originally from had a lake called Tsongkapa. That is where his name comes from.
Zurgada reminisces that when she was a girl the Kalmyks prepared for both Zul and Tsagan Sar in advance. During these holidays people invited each other into their homes. It was important to pay a visit to one’s parents-in-laws. The elderly women were given biscuits and nutmeg as a gift. Children were also given biscuits, which they would bring home and then go out to get more.
Once upon a time the lama Tsongkapa fell ill. No one could help him. But one astrologist told Tsongkapa’s followers to collect leaves, boil them in water and give the tea to their masters to drink it for a month. Tsongkapa recovered. Since then the Kalmyks began to include tea in their offerings to gods. According to Sergei, Zul is the birthday of the Kalmyk nation and Tsagan Sar is a celebration of New Year. Tsagan Sar is also an old holiday. Chingis Khan himself celebrated this holiday in autumn when the livestock get fat and milk products are in abundance. Later he began to celebrate Tsagan Sar in spring. In the past, wealthy people put on new clothes, killed animals and invited others for a celebration. According to Sergei, Ur Sar has a Russian influence. On this day, the Kalmyks make tea, cook meat and invite their relatives to their homes.
Roza says she celebrates Zul every year. She goes to the temple and performs a ritual to prolong the lives of her children and close relatives. Before Zul she buys grass stems for birthday candles. For example, last year her son was 27. She stuck 27 +1 or 2 stems on his candle. She also makes an extra candle with 9 grass stems, which, she heard, should be dedicated to the whole family. In the past, it was Roza’s grandmother who collected grass and cut it to the right length.
Zul is the birthday of the lama Tsongkapa and of all people. It is believed that 7 days after Zul, the Master of the Year migrates. During this period, it is forbidden to take out ashes from the stove, let alone rubbish. Men are not supposed to leave home. People prepare birthday candles before Zul. The number of grass stems in the candles should be equal to the years one has lived plus 1 or 2 stems. Celebratory meal includes porridge, bulmg, tea and biscuits. A prayer uttered at Zul is as follows: ‘Oh, great gods, the old year is leaving us and the new year is coming/ Let all our years be long and healthy/ Let Tsongkapa bless our years’.
Zul is a birthday. On this day, people light candles for themselves at night. Besides this, one special candle with 9 grass stems stuck on it should be dedicated to the goddess Okn Tengri. During Tsagan Sar people are supposed to pay visits to their elders and congratulate them on the holiday. People should not forget to pay a visit to their parents-in-law, which is very important. In the past, it was forbidden to enter the house of one’s parents-in-laws bare footed or without a hat. Out of respect, the visitors were supposed to hold the hand of their in-laws with both hands and bow. It was also forbidden to sit on their bed during a visit.
In his childhood, Ivan recalls, they made candles in the form of small boats from dough. Such candle-boats were made for each member of his family. Also, two extra candle-boats were made for the ancestors. Grass called betk ovs was erected vertically on each boat-candle. Ivan looked forward to Zul, because the candle-boats that were fried in oil were very delicious. After Zul, men were not supposed to go far from their homes for several days.
During Zul people add a year to their age. It is believed that during this holiday the lama Tsongkapa descends from the skies. People congratulate each other, make biscuits, tea and offer food to gods. Garya says that different clans celebrate Zul differently. For example, among the Noynakhn clan, of which Garya is a member, families make small boats from dough for each of their members. The next day the dough boats are fried in butter and eaten. Younger members of the family come to pay respect to their elders.
Maria says on this holiday people fry biscuits, pay visits to their elders and invite others for a celebration. Birthday candles are prepared in advance and lit during Zul at night. It is forbidden to take out rubbish or take money out of the house for 7 days. Men are supposed to stir Kalmyk tea three times with their right hands before offering it to gods.
Vera says that the Kalmyks celebrate the following holidays: Zul, Tsagan Sar, Ur Sar and Zul. Among them, Zul is a special holiday. It is when people celebrate their birthdays. Before this holiday, people tidy up their homes and burn their old things. Men go to temples and perform a ritual to prolong life.
Vera says that people should make birthday candles for their boys on Zul. Vera makes the candles from dough and sticks grass stems into them according to the age of her boys plus 1 or 2 additional grass stems. The candles could also be made from potatoes. Traditionally, men celebrated their birthdays 7 days after Zul. During Tsagan Sar Vera makes tea early in the morning and offers it to the gods.
Nogan says that the ancestors of the Kalmyks did not cook meat but khyalmsh (a dish made from butter and flour) during Zul. The celebratory table was laid with biscuits (khavtkha and togsh varieties) tea and khyalmsh. In the past, only men celebrated their birthdays during Zul. Prior to the holiday, people tidied up their homes and made birthday candles. A special grass was collected, dried and cut 4 fingers long. The grass stems were wrapped with cotton and covered with melted butter. The number of grass stems in candles was more by 1 or 2 stems than the actual age of the person for whom the candle was dedicated. During Zul people visited their relatives, and the elders congratulated younger people. Nogan says that her mother in-law used to wake up early in the morning, make food and invite the elders for a celebration. A well-wish uttered during Zul is as follows: ‘Let your birthday be happy/ Let your life road be clear and without obstacles/ Let all people live in health and happiness’. During Zul it is forbidden to throw out bones left from meals. Bones should be disposed of by burning.
On Zul all Kalmyks celebrate their birthdays. In the morning people light candles, put offerings to gods and read prayers as follows: ‘Let’s all have a happy birthday Let all people live in peace and friendship Let the coming year be even better Let all people have good health Let gods bless us all’.