MOSCOW, March 25, Tatyana Ryzhkova. The Buryats have made a great contribution to the culture of the Russian Federation. A special love for Baikal, delicious and hearty cuisine, impressive music on the national instrument in the form of a horse's head — of course, this is not all. About the Mongolian-speaking people living in the Far Eastern Federal District, and their traditions — in the material.
Yurts: where the Buryats lived
The yurts of the Buryats are round, with a window at the top and a hearth in the middle. Made from natural materials, felt and wood.
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"The left side of the yurt— for women, there are crockery and utensils. On the male half — chests decorated with carvings, horse harness, shoes», — explains the deputy director of the Taltsy architectural and ethnographic museum Elena Strekalina.
In the shaman's yurt there are wooden and iron canes, swords, a sorcerer's costume. As well as symbols of ongons — the spirits of the ancestor of the family or clan, the guardians of the home.
Music and dances: morin khuur and ekhor
The most famous musical instrument of the Buryats is morin khuur, which means «horse head». Two strings, neck in the form of a horse's head. They play with a bow.
According to legend, the evil khan killed the beloved white horse of a boy named Suhe, but the spirit of the horse appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to make a musical instrument from horse bones and a head. Suhe made the world's first morin khuur, walked around the world with him and glorified his favorite.
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«No matter how cheerful the Buryats play on the morin khuur, there is always a note of sadness in it,» the guides of the Golden Horde ethnopark note.
In 2008, the morin khuur was included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO Heritage of Humanity. Morin khuur playing schools are open to those who wish in different cities not only in Buryatia, but also in Mongolia. data-crop-ratio=»0.66625″ data-crop-width=»600″ data-crop-height=»400″ data-source-sid=»rian_photo» class=»lazyload» width=»1920″ height=»1279 » decoding=»async» />
The favorite dance of the Buryats is ekhor, round dance. Since 2007, Ulan-Ude has been hosting an annual «Night of the Echora» — thousands of citizens and guests gather.
Religion: shamans and Buddhists
Since ancient times, the Buryats have deified nature that surrounds them: the sun, wind, horses, the steppe itself, mountains and forests. Baikal and its environs are extremely important for them, especially Olkhon Island not far from Irkutsk.
Near the sacred Cape Burkhan, there are still 13 serge — pillars, to which, it is believed, the spirits of ancestors tie their horses. Once upon a time, every yurt had such. These pillars symbolize the tree of life, which combines three worlds: heavenly (upper), earthly (middle) and underground (lower). » media-type=»photo» data-crop-ratio=»0.692021636240703″ data-crop-width=»600″ data-crop-height=»415″ data-source-sid=»rian_photo» class=»lazyload» width =»1920″ height=»1329″ decoding=»async» />
At the end of the 17th century, Tibetan Buddhism came to the Baikal region. His followers also took a fancy to Cape Burkhan (which the Russians called Shamanka).
Climbing the cape itself is not accepted today, it is not in the local customs. Tourists are photographed against its background.
Serge are decorated with colorful ribbons — these are appeals to the ancient gods and spirits. In August, shamans come here — not only from Buryatia, but from all over the world.
Food: meat, fish, invigorating tea
It is very difficult to be a vegan among the Buryats — here they like hearty food, meat and fish. The local specialty is buuzy, or, in the Russian manner, poses. Cafes with them can be found in Moscow, and in Irkutsk and other Baikal cities they are at every turn. Buuzes are practically khinkali or manti, but smaller and of a different shape.
Traditionally, they are molded in the form of a yurt, with 20-30 tucks made on top. The filling is pork and beef, but they also come with horse meat. In Central Russia, poses are eaten with a knife and fork — and they make a huge mistake. They need to be taken with your hands while drinking meat juice. -crop-width=»600″ data-crop-height=»403″ data-source-sid=»rian_photo» class=»lazyload» width=»1920″ height=»1290″ decoding=»async» />
Sugudai is very popular — lightly salted fish with black pepper, lots of onions and cranberries. Usually it is the Baikal omul.
In general, the Buryats love all kinds of stroganina — and they know how to cook it. For a snack — wild garlic with milk, seasoned with pine nuts. For dessert, there are boovy, soft brushwood.
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» Much attention in the Buryat cuisine is paid to dairy products — they prepare bread, main and first courses, drinks. They drink tea with milk,” says the author and head of the Media Stars project. tour operator "Intourist" Amalia Akopova.
They also drink tea with sagan-dali. This herb is a strong energy drink, and if brewed incorrectly, it causes a strong heartbeat and other not very pleasant and healthy conditions. Buryats add sagan-dali to black or berry tea.
Fashion: only natural
Buryats dressed in furs — fox, fox, sable fur, as well as natural leather and wool. With the development of trade relations with China, silk, velvet, cotton, jewelry made of stones, silver and gold were added to the costume. 
Each color has its own meaning: black — soil, blue — sky, green — earth, red — fire, white — good intentions and a pure heart.
The headdress is malgai, a conical hat with velvet or fur.
Where to plunge into the culture of the Buryats
Get acquainted with the Buryat culture, shamanic traditions can be in Eastern Siberia, and with Buryat Buddhism — in Transbaikalia and the Republic of Buryatia. Ethnopark «Golden Horde» — in the village of Ust-Ordynsky near Irkutsk. In the Taltsy museum you will learn not only about the Buryat way of life, but also about the relationship with the first Russian settlers.