The culture of Buryatia is a combination of the cultures of the peoples of Asia and Europe, the formation of which went in parallel with the development of the foundations of social life in Transbaikalia. Many tribes and peoples have contributed to this culture, replacing each other in this territory for thousands of years.
One of the most interesting layers of the culture of Buryatia is the culture of its indigenous people - the Buryats. A huge layer of culture belongs to Buddhism and the Buddhist tradition brought to Buryatia from Tibet and Mongolia. This layer includes Buddhist teachings, including philosophy, Tibetan medicine, astrology, and Buddhist painting. On this basis, writing and printing developed in Buryatia. Russian artist Nicholas Roerich made a great contribution to the development of ties between Buryatia and Tibet.
The culture of Russians in Buryatia has retained its traditional features thanks, first of all, to one of the most prominent groups of representatives of the Russian population - the Semeis (Old Believers). The art of the Transbaikal Cossacks is distinguished by its originality.
The modern layer of culture, which was developed as a result of the creation in Buryatia of institutions whose activities were aimed at introducing the people to European culture, is represented by types of culture that use subjects from both the past and present of Buryatia. These are literature, opera and ballet, drama, cinema, music, sculpture and painting, pop, circus, folklore.
The national art of other peoples living in Buryatia is represented by folk ensembles of people from Korea, China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine. There are national cultural centers and public associations in Buryatia.
The most interesting examples of material culture are stored in the funds and exhibition halls of museums; examples of classical and modern art are presented in the activities of theaters, palaces and clubs, in the activities of the Buryat State Philharmonic.
The culture of Buryatia is in continuous development, it is enriched with new achievements, new directions and types appear in it, but at the same time it preserves the heritage of past eras. Myths and legends of Buryatia.
MAIN HOLIDAYS
Surkharban, a holiday-rite of honoring the Earth, took place in the summer and was considered the second most important holiday of the year among the Buryats. The ritual part of the holiday usually took place on the mountain, where sacrifices were made to the hosts - the spirits of the area near the obo. After the prayer service in the steppe, it was time for games and competitions. They included archery, Buryat wrestling and horse racing. It was a truly popular holiday, attracting crowds of people from all over the area.
In ancient times, archery targets were made from a leather belt - “sur”, and the shooting competition “surkharban” became the name of the entire holiday. And not by chance. Since ancient times, bows and arrows hung in the yurt in a place of honor; no one was allowed to step over them. The arrow played an important role in rituals of invoking fertility and happiness, and was a talisman-amulet.
Race participants competed over a distance of three to four kilometers. The owner of a racing horse nursed it a month before the race. After the race, praise was given to the horse that came first.
The main celebration of the year, as in old times, is considered to be Sagaalgan - the arrival of the White Moon. It is held according to the lunar calendar on the first day of the first spring month, more often in February; since 1990 it has become an official holiday in Buryatia. The cult side of the holiday takes place in datsans. On the 30th of the last winter month, the “Dugzhuba” ritual is performed with the burning of “Litter,” which symbolizes the destruction of everything negative with the outgoing year and the arrival of prosperity in the coming year. During the night and until dawn on the first day of the new year, magtaals (praises) are read in datsans to the defender of the Teaching - the goddess Baldan Lhamo. Then, when the New Year begins, prayers dedicated to the miracles of Buddha are read for 15 days.
In everyday life, preparation for the New Year begins long before its onset - with the preparation of national dishes, establishing order and cleanliness in the house, purchasing new items and numerous gifts for all relatives and friends. On the first day of the New Year, children, if they live separately, always come with congratulations and gifts to their parents or elders. Showing respect for elders is one of the main meanings of the Sagaalgan holiday.
Of course, it begins with an offering of white hadak and white food - milk, cottage cheese, dried foam, rice porridge. “Even a month before the holiday, even earlier, preparations for it begin: they talk about the fun that awaits everyone, sew new clothes, stock up on wine, prepare gifts, etc.; but the use of khadaks is especially remarkable,” wrote Dorji Banzarov in 1846.
The khadak is presented like this: the younger one approaches the elder with it, holding it on the palms of his outstretched arms, and places it on his hands; the elder shifts the khadak to the younger’s right hand and connects his hands with it from the elbows to the hands.
Since 2008, the republic has launched an interregional tourism project “Fairytale Sagaalgan in Buryatia.” Winter fairy-tale characters come from different parts of Russia to congratulate residents and guests of the republic on Sagaalgan. Buryatia, where guests are greeted by Sagaan Ubgen (White Old Man) and the Evenki Mother Winter, has already been visited by: the Russian Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug, the Kostroma Snow Maiden, the Lord of the Cold Chyskhan from Yakutia, Yamal Iri from Yamal. The project primarily has a social orientation. Guests congratulate children from orphanages and shelters on the holiday. And of course, meeting such guests is a joyful memory
MUSIC OF BURYATIA
Buryat music is represented both by performers from the Russian Federation (Republic of Buryatia, Aginsky and Ust-Ordynsky Buryat districts), and by performers of Buryat origin from Mongolia and China.
Buryat folk music is represented by numerous genres: epic tales (uliger), lyrical ritual songs, dance songs (the round dance yokhor is especially popular) and other genres. The modal basis is the anhemitonic pentatonic scale. In the songwriting of the Baikal Buryats (Irkutsk region), an incomplete pentatonic scale, consisting of 3 and 4 sounds, predominates.
Eastern Buryat songs are characterized by a wide range, chanting, wide intervals, and a full 5-step scale. Western Buryat songs (segee zugaa) are dominated by narrow-volume modes (anhemitonics), a variant-singing structure, they are distinguished by whimsical rhythms and an abundance of ornamentation. Songs: ritual, historical, lyrical, praise, etc.
The folk tradition of singing of the Eastern Buryats knows almost no dynamic shades. Usually they sing songs “at the top of their voice”, with wide breathing, with a strong open sound. This feature, apparently, is explained by the fact that from time immemorial Buryat vocal music-making took place in the open air in the steppe.
Such a drawn-out song is a product of a pastoral herding tribe. The creators of the drawn-out song are shepherds grazing their flocks in the steppe.
The first recordings of Buryat folk songs were collected and published by I. G. Gmelin (1852), then by I. S. Stalbrass and K. Stumpf (1887), A. D. Rudnev (1909).
Namghar team
Among the folk instruments, one can note such instruments as: wind instruments - limbe (a type of flute), beshkhuur (bishkhur) (reed), aman khuur (jaw's harp), strings - morin-khuur and khuchir (bowed), chanza (shanza) and yataga (plucked ), as well as numerous percussion instruments.
In the shamanic and Buddhist cults, hengereg, san, damaari, dinchik (percussion), ukher-buree, ganlin, beshkhur (wind) and other instruments were used.
Lupsuntsyren and Atserzhab Zhambalov are famous master makers of musical instruments.
LITERATURE OF BURYATIA
The Buryats have an important written heritage. These are primarily Buryat chronicles, including the history and legends of the Buryats. The Buryats are the only people of Siberia who have their own historical written monuments.
The traditional literature of the Buryats included a number of half-Buddhist, half-shamanistic works, containing the stories of famous shamans and the rules of veneration of shamanic deities.
The bulk of Buryat literature consisted of translated works of the Buddhist tradition. These were primarily translations from Tibetan into Mongolian of Buddhist sacred books, treatises on philosophy, medicine, etc. and Danjur - an encyclopedia of more than 200 volumes. The main centers of literary activity were the monasteries-datsans, which were staffed by scholar-translators. Many of the datsans were equipped with libraries and printing houses, where books were printed using woodcut printing.
The first theatrical play in the Buryat language is considered to be the play “Ukhyl” (Death), written in 1908 in Irkutsk by seminarian D. A. Abasheev. Before the revolution of 1917, plays by the following authors appeared: I. V. Barlukov, G. V. Bazaron, S. P. Baldaev. In total, before the October Revolution of 1917, the Buryats had 5 or 6 handwritten plays. Some of them were installed illegally. The main themes of the early plays: noyonat, shamanism, Lamaism.
After the revolution, the formation of the Buryat literary language began on the basis of the Latin alphabet, and then the Cyrillic alphabet and the Khorin dialect. This meant a break with the previous literary tradition. At the same time, the development of European literary forms and mass secular education in Russian and Buryat languages took place.
In 1922, the first collection of poems by Solbone Tuya (P.N. Dambinova) “Tsvetosteppe” was published. The first Buryat stories were written by Ts. Don (Ts. D. Dondubon): “The Moon in an Eclipse” (1932), “Poisoning from Cheese Cheese” (1935).
The first literary almanac in the Buryat language, Uran-Ugun-Chimek, was published in February 1927.
At the end of the 1930s, Buryat writers began to write books for children and literary adaptations of folk tales. These are primarily the literary tales of B. D. Abiduev: “The Tale of the Little Goat Baban”, “Riding the Tiger”, “Shalay and Shanay”, “Kotiy Bator”, “The Bat”, “The Brave Little Goat of Baban”. Following him, fairy tales by A. I. Shadayev and others began to appear.
In 1949, the first Buryat novel “The Steppe Awoke” by Zh. T. Tumunov was published in Ulan-Ude. It was followed by the novels of Kh. Namsaraev “At the Morning Dawn” (1950), Ch. Tsydendambaev “Dorji, son of Banzar” (1952), “Far from the native steppes” (1956). Zh. T. Tumunov wrote his second novel “Golden Rain” in 1954.
B.D. Abiduev H. Namsaraev
MUSEUMS OF BURYATIA
In Buryatia there are: 5 state, 19 municipal, and more than a hundred settlement and school museums.
Museum of the History of the City of Ulan-Ude was created in 1990, and in 2001 the museum settled in a monument of architecture and urban planning, the house of a merchant, hereditary honorary citizen I.F. Goldobin in the historical part of the city at st. Lenina, 26. The Goldobin family patronized educational institutions and parish schools, and invested a lot of money in maintaining a shelter for children of prisoners. In 1891, the house was designated to receive Tsarevich Nicholas when he attended the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Transbaikal Cossack Army.
The museum displays exhibitions related to the history of Ulan-Ude: “Verkhneudinsk Fair”, “Family Life and Architecture of Verkhneudinsk”, “Nostalgia”, which presents antiques of the 20th century; an exhibition dedicated to the outstanding personality XII Pandito Khambo Lama Dasha Dorzhi Itigelov. There is also a creative workshop for adults and children. And the exhibition “City People Were” in the free presentation of the artist S.S. Emelyanov helps to present the city and the townspeople of the 17th–20th centuries.
National Museum of the Republic of Buryatia– a repository of cultural and historical treasures of the peoples of Buryatia. The museum consists of two largest museums in Buryatia: the Museum of the History of Buryatia named after. M.N. Khangalov and the Republican Art Museum named after. Ts.S.Sampilova.
Museum of History– one of the largest museums in Siberia (founded in 1923). The ancestors of the peoples of Buryatia left an invaluable memory of the material culture of the region, the ancient civilizations of the Huns, Turkic-speaking and Mongol-speaking steppe nomads - evidence of the distant and recent past, the inextricable connection of times and peoples.
The museum's collections include unique vessels from the Ivolginsky Hun settlement, jewelry made of precious and semi-precious stones, beautiful products by masters of the ancient region, and many archaeological finds. The museum has items of vestments and paraphernalia of the shamanic cult. The rarities of the culture of Central Asia are stored here - the “Atlas of Tibetan Medicine”, Buddhist canonical treatises, a collection of Buddhist literature with philosophical and ritual works on ethics and morality, medicine, poetic works by Indian, Tibetan, Mongolian and Buryat authors. A unique exhibit, the pride of the museum, is the “Cautious Bible” (1580), published by pioneer printer Ivan Fedorov. The museum's ethnographic collection includes coral, turquoise, and jade jewelry for women and silver jewelry for men.
The collection exhibition “Buddhist Art” is the “golden fund” of the museum; sculpture and painting by masters of Buryatia, China, India, Tibet, and Japan are presented here; collection of Buddhist wooden sculpture by the artist and monk Sanzhi-Tsybik Tsybikov.
Collections Art Museum- painting, graphics, sculpture, decorative and applied arts and jewelry. Permanent exhibitions: “Russian art of the 18th–20th centuries”, “Buryat fine art of the 20–50s”, “Decorative and applied art of Buryatia” (wood carvings, bones, containers and tapestries), “The soul of the people in jubilant song of silver" (unique silver items by Buryat craftsmen of the last 20th century), "Faces of the Geseriad" (works by Buryat artists dedicated to the Buryat epic "Geser"). Undoubtedly, the fine art of Buryatia makes a vivid impression. These are works by Dasha Namdakov, Zhamso Radnaev, Alla Tsybikova, Zorikto Dorzhiev.
Artists do not so much reconstruct the picture of the nomadic world as, by actually experiencing it, they embody on canvas the universe of nomadic civilization. The modern exhibition of the museum opens with the decorative and applied arts of Buryatia. Many of their types have long become a national brand.
Museum of Nature of Buryatia– not only a repository of cultural values and natural science collections, but also a center for environmental education.
The exhibition is housed in five halls: exhibition, natural history, geology and minerals, landscapes of Buryatia.
The exhibitions feature the remains of a woolly rhinoceros, bison, and mammoth, confirming the theory of the evolution of life on Earth; the most interesting of the mineral resources of the republic are shown, which geologists call “The Ancient Crown of Asia” (precious stones and jade of different shades are especially highlighted); the Red Book of Buryatia is shown (among the Red Book species, the bustard is the largest bird in Russia); landscapes of altitudinal zones and natural protected areas are shown.
A special place in the exhibition is given to Lake Baikal. The shape of the basin and the bottom topography are clearly visible on the model of the lake; Baikal endemics are also shown: the seal is the only mammal of the lake, the golomyanka is a deep-sea, viviparous and the most numerous fish of Baikal.
On the ancient land of Buryatia, tribes and peoples replaced each other for centuries and millennia, and they all left behind many monuments - dwellings and burials, settlements and fortresses, defensive ramparts and religious buildings, household items, crafts, combat and hunting equipment. The most expressive part of these monuments is collected in a unique open-air museum - Ethnographic Museum of the Peoples of Transbaikalia.
It is located in nature, in the picturesque Verkhnyaya Berezovka valley, and consists of several zone-complexes, chronologically and ethnographically replacing each other. This is an archaeological complex (ancient tribes), an Evenki complex, a Buryat Trans-Baikal and a Buryat Pre-Baikal (there are everyday, economic, and religious differences), a Russian old-timer and an Old Believer (locally - “Semeysky”, here there are also differences, both everyday and economic, and religious), trade and craft, urban (Verkhneudinsk), wildlife zone.
THEATERS OF BURYATIA
Buryat State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after. G. Tsydynzhapova(architect A.N. Fedorov) was designed in the 30s as the Palace of Socialist Culture; it was built in 1952. The building is recognized as an architectural monument. The style is Stalinist Empire style with national decorative elements. The design used individual elements of datsan architecture: chandeliers, sconces, stained glass windows, a ceiling lamp, high relief inside and outside, national ornaments, turrets. Above the central portal of the theater there is an artistic composition: horsemen with a banner on rearing horses. This is the work of A.I. Timin, the author of many sculptural compositions on the streets of the city.
State Russian Drama Theater named after. N.A. Bestuzheva- the first professional theater in Buryatia. The theater changed its address several times, but finally found a permanent place of residence. In 2007, construction began on a new theater building, and in 2009 it already received its first spectators. The theater stages plays of Soviet and Russian classical drama, and world classics.
Republican Puppet Theater "Ulger" was founded in 1967. The theater stages performances in Russian and Buryat languages, introducing young spectators to their roots and instilling a love for their native Buryat language. His performances have already become laureates of the International Golden Mask Festival four times.
Buryat State Academic Drama Theater named after. H.N. Namsaraeva- the oldest theater in Buryatia. In 1959, the theater was named after the writer Khots Namsaraev. In 2012 the theater turns 80 years old. The theater stages its performances in Buryat and Russian.
State Song and Dance Theater "Baikal" shows the beauty and originality of ancient songs and dances, costumes and ornaments, preserving folklore in its original form and at the same time creating new forms and means of artistic expression. Demonstrates the development of traditions of folklore and modern pop art.
For several centuries, Buryats have lived side by side with Russians, being part of the multinational population of Russia. At the same time, they managed to preserve their identity, language and religion.
Why are the Buryats called “Buryats”?
Scientists are still arguing about why the Buryats are called “Buryats”. This ethnonym first appears in the “Secret History of the Mongols,” dating back to 1240. Then, for more than six centuries, the word “Buryat” was not mentioned, appearing again only in written sources of the late 19th century.
There are several versions of the origin of this word. One of the main ones traces the word “Buryat” to the Khakass “pyraat”, which goes back to the Turkic term “buri”, which translates as “wolf”. “Buri-ata” is correspondingly translated as “father wolf.”
This etymology is due to the fact that many Buryat clans consider the wolf to be a totem animal and their ancestor.
It is interesting that in the Khakass language the sound “b” is muffled and pronounced like “p”. The Cossacks called the people living to the west of the Khakass “pyraat”. Subsequently, this term was Russified and became close to the Russian “brother”. Thus, “Buryats”, “brotherly people”, “brotherly Mungals” began to be called the entire Mongol-speaking population inhabiting the Russian Empire.
Also interesting is the version of the origin of the ethnonym from the words “bu” (gray-haired) and “Oirat” (forest peoples). That is, the Buryats are peoples indigenous to this area (Baikal region and Transbaikalia).
Tribes and clans
The Buryats are an ethnic group formed from several Mongol-speaking ethnic groups living in the territory of Transbaikalia and the Baikal region, which did not then have a single self-name. The formation process took place over many centuries, starting with the Hunnic Empire, which included the Proto-Buryats as Western Huns.
The largest ethnic groups that formed the Buryat ethnos were the Western Khongodors, Bualgits and Ekhirits, and the Eastern ones - the Khorins.
In the 18th century, when the territory of Buryatia was already part of the Russian Empire (according to the treaties of 1689 and 1727 between Russia and the Qing dynasty), Khalkha-Mongol and Oirat clans also came to southern Transbaikalia. They became the third component of the modern Buryat ethnic group.
To this day, tribal and territorial divisions have been preserved among the Buryats. The main Buryat tribes are the Bulagats, Ekhirits, Khoris, Khongodors, Sartuls, Tsongols, Tabanguts. Each tribe is also divided into clans.
Based on their territory, the Buryats are divided into Nizhneuuzky, Khorinsky, Aginsky, Shenekhensky, Selenginsky and others, depending on the lands of residence of the clan.
Black and yellow faith
The Buryats are characterized by religious syncretism. Traditional is a set of beliefs, the so-called shamanism or Tengrianism, in the Buryat language called “hara shazhan” (black faith). From the end of the 16th century, Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelug school - “Shara Shazhan” (yellow faith) began to develop in Buryatia. He seriously assimilated pre-Buddhist beliefs, but with the advent of Buddhism, Buryat shamanism was not completely lost.
Until now, in some areas of Buryatia, shamanism remains the main religious trend.
The advent of Buddhism was marked by the development of writing, literacy, printing, folk crafts, and art. Tibetan medicine has also become widespread, the practice of which exists in Buryatia today.
On the territory of Buryatia, in the Ivolginsky datsan, there is the body of one of the ascetics of Buddhism of the twentieth century, the head of the Buddhists of Siberia in 1911-1917, Khambo Lama Itigelov. In 1927, he sat in the lotus position, gathered his disciples and told them to read a prayer of good wishes for the deceased, after which, according to Buddhist beliefs, the lama went into a state of samadhi. He was buried in a cedar cube in the same lotus position, bequeathing before his departure to dig up the sarcophagus 30 years later. In 1955, the cube was lifted.
The body of Hambo Lama turned out to be incorrupt.
In the early 2000s, researchers conducted a study of the llama's body. The conclusion of Viktor Zvyagin, head of the personal identification department of the Russian Center for Forensic Medicine, became sensational: “With the permission of the highest Buddhist authorities of Buryatia, we were provided with approximately 2 mg of samples - these are hair, skin particles, sections of two nails. Infrared spectrophotometry showed that the protein fractions have intravital characteristics - for comparison, we took similar samples from our employees. An analysis of Itigelov’s skin, carried out in 2004, showed that the concentration of bromine in the llama’s body was 40 times higher than the norm.”
Cult of struggle
Buryats are one of the most fighting peoples in the world. National Buryat wrestling is a traditional sport. Since ancient times, competitions in this discipline have been held as part of surkharban - a national sports festival. In addition to wrestling, participants also compete in archery and horse riding. Buryatia also has strong freestyle wrestlers, sambo wrestlers, boxers, track and field athletes, and speed skaters.
Returning to wrestling, we must say about perhaps the most famous Buryat wrestler today - Anatoly Mikhakhanov, who is also called Orora Satoshi.
Mikhakhanov is a sumo wrestler. Orora Satoshi translates from Japanese as “northern lights” and is a shikonu, a professional wrestler's nickname.
The Buryat hero was born as a completely standard child, weighing 3.6 kg, but after that the genes of the legendary ancestor of the Zakshi family, who, according to legend, weighed 340 kg and rode two bulls, began to appear. In the first grade, Tolya already weighed 120 kg, at the age of 16 - under 200 kg with a height of 191 cm. Today the weight of the famous Buryat sumo wrestler is about 280 kilograms.
Hunting for the Nazis
During the Great Patriotic War, the Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic sent more than 120 thousand people to defend the Motherland. The Buryats fought on the war fronts as part of three rifle and three tank divisions of the Transbaikal 16th Army. There were Buryats in the Brest Fortress, which was the first to resist the Nazis. This is even reflected in the song about the defenders of Brest:
Only stones will tell about these battles,
How the heroes stood to the death.
There are Russians, Buryats, Armenians and Kazakhs here
They gave their lives for their homeland.
During the war years, 37 natives of Buryatia were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 10 became full holders of the Order of Glory.
Buryat snipers became especially famous during the war. Which is not surprising - the ability to shoot accurately has always been vital for hunters. Hero of the Soviet Union Zhambyl Tulaev destroyed 262 fascists, and a sniper school was created under his leadership.
Another famous Buryat sniper, senior sergeant Tsyrendashi Dorzhiev, by January 1943, had destroyed 270 enemy soldiers and officers. In a report from the Sovinformburo in June 1942, it was reported about him: “A master of super-accurate fire, Comrade Dorzhiev, who destroyed 181 Nazis during the war, trained and educated a group of snipers, on June 12, snipers-students of Comrade Dorzhiev shot down a German plane.” Another hero, Buryat sniper Arseny Etobaev, destroyed 355 fascists and shot down two enemy planes during the war years.
When traveling around Siberia, many things delight and bewilder. You drive past a seemingly ordinary pillar, take a closer look, and it’s not a pillar at all, but Burkhan, according to local residents. Here, it turns out, is a holy place, near which you need to perform a special ritual - "rumble", appease the spirits, otherwise expect trouble. They drink it as follows: you need to dip your ring finger into a glass of vodka, splash it in all directions, drink it and think about good things. You drive further and are surprised by the trees tied with multi-colored scraps of fabric, and this turns out to be Barisa- “place of power”, here you can pray or make a wish. And if you ask the locals, they will take you to a real shaman or Tarasun They will treat you, that is, with milk vodka. All these bizarre features are characteristic of the Buryat culture, which today has more than 460 thousand speakers, mainly living in the Republic of Buryatia, the Irkutsk region, and the Trans-Baikal Territory.
It’s a pity, of course, that today you can’t see beauties in traditional clothes, folding yurts new buildings have changed, and the Buryat heroes have switched from horses to cars, but the quiet echoes of antiquity still excite the consciousness of traveling residents of megacities.
Origin
The Buryat ethnic group was formed from various Mongol-speaking groups; Genghis Khan, the Chinese and Russian empires “strolled” through the history of the people. Being nomads, the Buryats were engaged in hunting, fishing and cattle breeding. Wanderings, civil strife, mixing of blood and a generally turbulent nomadic life complicate the study of the origins of this people. 
Modern Buryatia is a mix of national and neighboring cultures. For example, traditional shamanic beliefs coexist with Christianity, Buddhism and their movements, and on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia there are two state languages - Russian and Buryat.
Family traditions
As told Andrey Kurkutov, a representative of the Buryat youth, a student from Irkutsk, who acted as one of our guides to the Buryat culture, now the traditions of various clans are not observed as often as we would like. “Modern youth strives for the traditions of their ancestors, but they do not put this as a priority. Basically, once a year everyone gathers in their small homeland with the whole family to carry out various rituals, they do not wear costumes, because they do not consider it appropriate,” - Andrey added. 
However, some traditions are still observed, apparently thanks to the older generation. For example, the Buryats of the shamanic persuasion annually hold an ancient holiday Tailagan, where the ritual of sacrifice to the Great Spirit was performed. It looks something like this: a horse’s head, removed along with its skin and legs, is attached to a pole, and the sacrificial meat is fried over a fire and served on the table along with tarasun - milk vodka.
Culture
If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself in Buryatia, you should definitely look at the ancient and very colorful dance Ehor. According to Andrei Kurkutov, Buryat youth get together on Ekhora night, put on traditional costumes, dance and have fun. 
At first glance, it seems that anyone can dance Ehor, but, as a rule, a beginner is unable to do it due to the awkward swinging movement of bent arms. The dance looks very beautiful: the round dance of those gathered looks like the Sun, everyone walks in a circle and sings. In ancient times, this dance had a sacred meaning and was performed only on special occasions.
Beliefs
Shamanism is a complex phenomenon and is often mistakenly equated with magic and witchcraft. The priest of belief - the shaman, is generally believed to be able to fall into ecstatic trance, contact spirits. Shamanism is aimed at direct perception of the world, comprehension of the relationship between nature and man. 
Some Buryat families even perform simple shamanic rituals in city apartments.
"Shamanists place arrows under the ceiling - ongons. I don’t have exact data, but I think about one hundred thousand people of the Buryat population profess shamanism in one form or another. This is about a third of the Buryat population,” the hereditary shaman shared with us Valentin Khagdaev.
"Sacred Sea"
Since ancient times, Baikal places have been considered sacred by the Buryat people. Many songs and legends are dedicated to them, even some patterns of clothing or homes repeat the waves of the lake.
Baikal, in the minds of the indigenous population, is a separate living creature, with its own character and mood. Indeed, when you get to the lake, the weather next to it is completely different from that at the same time, for example, in Irkutsk. There are many legends about the lake that any local boy can tell you. The most famous one tells about Baikal’s daughter Angara, who tried to run away from her father to her lover, but he, trying to stop her, threw a rock after her, but missed. This is how the source of the Angara River from Lake Baikal is marked by a huge rock - Shaman-stone.
This legend, as it turned out, is connected with two facts at once. Firstly, this is an explanation of why 336 rivers and streams flow into Baikal, and only one Angara flows out of it. Secondly, the legend explains the special attitude of the Buryats to the Shaman Stone, as a sacred place where they used to make sacrifices and leave criminals to be judged by Lake Baikal. If his water was taken away, then he was guilty, if not, then people forgave him.
Baikal has the same mysterious origin as the Buryats themselves. Scientists say that such old lakes eventually become overgrown with silt or turn into a swamp, but the water in Baikal is the cleanest on the planet.
Olga Morozova
Modern stylization of the national costume is extremely popular in Buryatia. Stylizations of degel of different lengths are used, in the form of evening dresses and outerwear. The original cut of the sleeves, collars, with inserts with enger - a stepped pattern of colored stripes, and cuffs are used.
Fabrics also deserve attention - silk, satin with patterns and textured embroidery, intertwined with silver and gold threads, traditional bright colors - blue, red, green, yellow, turquoise.
In modern fashion, stylizations of the Buryat costume in the form of an evening dress, blouse, coat, embroidery with ornaments, traditional patterns are popular, satin ribbons and braid are used for decoration. Silver jewelry with corals, turquoise, and agate are actively used.
In everyday life, you can increasingly see stylized national shoes in the form of UGG boots, high boots, and boots. And also hats with fur in the national style in combination with genuine leather and suede.
The traditional Buryat costume is worn on major national holidays - Sagaalgan (White Month - the onset of the New Year according to the lunar calendar), Surkharban (summer sports festival), for theatrical performances, religious holidays, and meetings of honored guests.
Modern models of wedding dresses in the national style are becoming increasingly popular. Many artists use the national Buryat costume for their stage image.
In recent years, interregional competitions for fashion designers have begun to be held, using stylized national costume and ethnic motifs in their collections. Many interesting models from such shows reach the “masses” and become popular among young people.
Fashionable looks
Unusually warm and cozy models made of sheep wool with the addition of cashmere are very useful in the Siberian frosts. This can be a trouser version with a stylized top to resemble the national Buryat costume - a stand-up collar, a stepped border on the chest, an unusual sleeve, a hood. Or this is an option with a soft silhouette, tight-fitting but not restricting movement, with a maxi-length skirt or dress, with ethnic patterns. Wool is a thin and original material that provides warmth in cold weather and breathability in hot weather. By adding an original ethnic-style headdress, your image will become unforgettable.
An original outfit in white with silver contrasting trims and accents is suitable for an evening out and as a wedding dress. The interesting design of the bodice and the asymmetry of the shoulder with silver edging looks like a stepped enger insert; the side ornament at the waist and at the place where the cape is attached gives an ethnic and airy look. The vertical silver stripe on the skirt again evokes national motifs. At the same time, the length of the dress above the knees does not look provocative. By adding unique head jewelry with silver side pendants, you are sure to be irresistible.
Another look for an evening out or a wedding celebration in white with gold will be unforgettable. The national Buryat costume includes a cut-off skirt with a top, original gold embroidery in the form of an ornament, national jewelry - bracelets, a breast necklace and a rich headdress. The dress has short sleeves trimmed with gold piping, as does the bodice. A golden high headdress with decoration on the forehead and pendants adds femininity, stateliness and chic. The fullness and length of the skirt will emphasize the slimness of the waist.
Modern Russia is breaking records for the number of emigrants. Buryatia is actively joining the great exodus of Russians to more comfortable countries for living.
Putin's fourth wave
Every year, several tens of thousands of people leave for foreign countries for permanent residence, mainly in the USA, Israel and Europe. The number of people leaving began to grow most sharply in 2012, 2013 and 2014, immediately after the Bolotnaya riots and the famous anti-LGBT decree. National minorities, gays, journalists and social activists are the main part of the political emigrants of the Putin wave. Russians are twice as likely to apply for political asylum as an extreme reaction to persecution and pressure in their home country. There has also been an increase in the number of famous people who are not shy about speaking publicly about their decision. All this is reminiscent of the third wave of emigration from the USSR in the 60s - 80s of the 20th century, when writers, dancers and scientists fled from the country.
But, if in Soviet times for many people escaping from the country was really vital, today more and more often it looks more like another way to improve their living conditions, embellishing and aggravating the situation in their homeland in the eyes of society.
Political asylum, for example, is one of the easiest ways to quickly obtain US citizenship; it is much easier than even fictitiously getting married or marrying a citizen, and even more so than finding a job in an American company and waiting a long time, progressively moving from the green card to citizenship, which can take many years, or even a lifetime. Not to mention that a refugee has the right to receive financial and other assistance from the US authorities.
In most cases, to obtain refugee status, it is enough to provide evidence of persecution based on race, political opinion or sexual orientation. Photo - video materials of beatings, evidence of social and political activity, social network pages, news in the media, etc. and pass an interview.
Looking for a better life
In Buryatia and other national regions, arguments about racial and religious oppression, as well as political motives associated with racial and religious oppression, are more often made. Over the past few years, several well-known political figures and social activists have left for the United States precisely for these reasons.
Many people want to follow their example, especially young people. However, this desire is often dictated not by real persecution, but by general dissatisfaction with the economic, political and other situation in the country and in the republic. Everyday nationalism and lack of work play a big role. As you know, outside the republic, especially in the capital, people with Asian appearance have a hard time. Therefore, only abroad remains.
In theory, residents of Buryatia can claim asylum by providing evidence of infringement of rights and freedoms in the form of a non-functioning Constitutional Court of Buryatia and the need to bring all laws and even the Constitution of the republic itself in accordance with federal legislation. That is, it is possible to prove the absence or inconsistency with the validity of those guarantees that are provided to our subject as part of the Russian Federation.
Persecuted professor Vladimir Khamutaev
One of the most odious refugees of recent times is a former employee of the Belarusian Scientific Center, Doctor of Historical Sciences Vladimir Khamutaev, who emigrated in 2012. Vladimir Khamutaev requested political asylum immediately after he was fired from the research center for absenteeism. According to the scientist, his dismissal was facilitated by his monograph “The Accession of Buryatia to Russia: History, Law, Politics,” which was published after the celebrations of the 350th anniversary of the unification of the two peoples. The main idea of the monograph was that accession was not voluntary. At the same time, many of Khamutaev’s colleagues believe that the author was engaged in juggling facts and distorting historical events in order to lead to a pre-formulated conclusion. And the monograph itself turned out to be provocative in many ways. Also, the BSC denied the scientist’s statement that the dismissal was related to the publication of this work.
However, immediately after leaving the BSC, Vladimir Khamutaev, with the support of the Buryat human rights center “Erhe”, which was formed back in 2006 during the unification of the Ust-Orda Autonomous Okrug and the Irkutsk Region, requested political asylum in the United States for himself and his entire family. His main support was provided by social activist Dorzho Dugarov, who today makes up “Erhe”.
In one of his interviews, Dugarov called Khamutaev’s emigration an evacuation, because he allegedly faced criminal prosecution for inciting ethnic hatred under “political” Article 282. Although law enforcement agencies did not bring any charges against the scientist, there were no investigative actions in the form of interrogations or searches.
Evacuation of Buryatia Dorzho Dugarov
The public learned the details of what “evacuation of the Buryats” was much later, already during the discussion of the criminal case of the unemployed Ulan-Ude resident, pan-mangolist Vladimir Khagdaev, which was opened under Article 282 (calls for separatism and incitement of ethnic hatred), and the young man was also charged with possession of drugs on a large scale. The investigation into the case has already been completed, and Khagdaev will soon face trial.
After the media learned about Khagdaev, the same Dorzho Dugarov immediately offered his help. It consisted, as you probably already understood, in escape. However, Khagdaev considered this option fantastic, especially since he could not leave his family.
“What pissed me off the most was when this Dorzho suggested that I flee the country, knowing that I was under subscription. He offered some fabulous options, as if he had an acquaintance, a general of the Mongolian army, who would meet me on the other side of the border, but we must go to the border in my car. It's as if he knows former Prime Minister Byambasuren. There I will be escorted to the American embassy and evacuated on a military plane. It’s infuriating that they can see perfectly well that I’m raising three children alone and taking care of my old grandmother,” Vladimir wrote on his page on the social network.
At which Dorzho Dugarov was terribly offended and refused to further defend Khagdaev, explaining what he meant by “evacuation.”
“In general, evacuation is the standard back-up move in cases where a person persecuted in his own country for political reasons cannot be saved from imprisonment. For example, we used something similar for the emigration of Vladimir Andreevich Khamutaev, albeit on a smaller scale, and other Buryat emigrants in recent years,” he said in an interview with the site.
At the same time, the scientist Khagdaev himself never spoke of his departure as an escape. The same goes for leaving for the USA via Mongolia.
“The interview for political asylum went very quickly. Again, American friends helped. Today, having already gone through this most difficult stage for many, I see that this is not such a difficult question. It’s in vain that many people dramatize. I need to write about this sometime. In general, there were difficulties that are usual with any move - housing, unusual humidity for us, difficulties with money. At the same time, if you have wide eyes and a kind heart, then America is the best country,” Khamutaev said in an interview with “New Buryatia.
Also, it is not clear what other political emigrants from Buryatia in recent years, whom he allegedly evacuated, Dugarov is talking about.
Persecution of Rajana Dugarova
Another well-known Erhe activist in the past, Rajana Dugarova, also lives in the United States today, but the social activist came to the country a little differently. Before moving to America, Rajana lived in Poland for several years on a Polish card and worked on a research project for a Polish university.
Our people are leaving Buryatia precisely because they are being persecuted because of their views, says Rajana. - I encountered a feeling of paranoia several years ago. This is the first thing that disappears when crossing the Russian border. And now I’m no longer afraid to talk on the phone, look around at visitors in a cafe when meeting friends, or turn on the internal censor when writing articles or posts on social networks. Moreover, the situation has worsened many times since Andrei Bubeev and Evgenia Chudnovets were imprisoned for reposting. Stalin's repressions, when they were imprisoned for telling a joke, they had already arrived! I never thought these times could come back."
It is noteworthy that in Russia there were also no criminal cases, searches, or interrogations against Rajana Dugarova. Rajana, like Dorzho, became known thanks to the events of 2006 in the Irkutsk region during the unification of the regions. “Erhe” then actively prevented this, holding actions, round tables and pickets against the Kremlin’s policies. Vladimir Khamutaev also supported the young scientists, speaking sharply about the possible consequences, and also about the fact that if the Ust-Orda district is united, it will only be with Buryatia.
One of the forms of protest was the screening of the recently released film “The First Nuker of Genghis Khan” by the Buryat film studio “Urga” in the villages of the Ust-Orda Autonomous Okrug. The film was supposed to somehow influence the national feelings of the Ust-Horde residents, as well as the results of the upcoming referendum. Predictably, filmmakers and social activists were reluctantly allowed into clubs and cultural centers, and in some cases they were simply kicked out. This became the reason for a political scandal on the eve of the referendum.
In the end, they tried to bring Rajana Dugarova to justice, but administratively, for an unauthorized single picket during the Congress of Representatives of the Buryat People in the summer of 2006. However, the magistrate of the Sovetsky district considered that Rajana’s actions did not constitute a crime, and the girl had the legal right to a single picket without permission from the authorities. Perhaps this was the only point that can be brought up to the definition of “persecution based on political views.”
Conflict of interest of Bulat Shaggin
The political emigration of the famous publisher Bulat Shaggin looks even less plausible. Bulat himself recently admitted on social networks that he left due to a “conflict of interest with the authorities.”
“They run away from Buryatia because of problems in social and political life, with crime, someone has problems in the service (this is how Buryats are prevented from moving up, despite better service, education, etc.). I can’t say that I want everyone to rush here; someone should work in the Motherland. But there are people who have no choice,” writes Shaggin. - “We have a wonderful apartment with a swimming pool in the complex, an interesting hobby (I make wooden furniture), the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico nearby, a warm climate, rich flora and fauna outside the doors of our house. And this would never have happened if not for the dangerous circumstances. Such a shake-up helps us begin the work of finding ourselves again.”
Bulat Shajzhin actively shares information on how to apply for political asylum and successfully pass the interview, talks about pitfalls and self-interested migration lawyers who charge too much. Bulat himself, in order to save money, received asylum on his own.
However, speaking about the conflicts and dangers that allegedly haunted him in his homeland, Bulat did not cite a single fact. In Buryatia, and in Russia, no criminal cases were opened against Bulat Shaggin, there were no searches or interrogations. It is known that Shagghin took part in several rallies, including in defense of philanthropist Valery Dorzhiev, who was arrested in the summer of 2014 and illegally taken to Yakutia, as well as in defense of BSU. However, Bulat was not the organizer of either the first or the second event, taking part on a general basis, when everyone could speak out. At the same time, the organizers and active participants themselves did not have any problems with the authorities and authorities. But, suddenly, they appeared at Bulat Shaggin’s place.
In an interview with the website portal in 2015, Bulat said that he was being persecuted, that his publishing business had been overcome by financial checks, and that people in uniform were openly following him on the streets of Ulan-Ude.
The last straw, according to Shaggin, was the pressure of the republican authorities and personally the head of Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn, who allegedly prohibited the BSC and BSU from collaborating with the publisher on the book “History of the Buryats.”
“Letters were sent out demanding that the employees of these institutions stop working on the book and stopping cooperation with the Buryaad Soyol publishing house in publishing this publication,” Shaggin said, but, again, did not provide evidence of this.
Taken together, it was these facts that formed the basis for Shazhin’s political emigration to the United States. However, it is worth doubting whether this is the only reason. The suffering of Bulat Shaggin looks too far-fetched and exaggerated against the background of the same Nizodkina and Stetsura, who were subjected to real persecution for their views, were convicted under Article 282, were in a real prison, were beaten at rallies, but returned to their homeland and continue to live in Buryatia. Maybe it's just that the business is unprofitable?
The whole world is a refuge
For those who do not consider the United States as their new homeland, Europe and Asia can also offer protection. Getting to Poland, for example, like Rajan Dugarov, is quite easy. The Pole's card has many advantages and is not that difficult to apply for. For a Pole card, you need recommendations from the chairman of a local Polish organization or a close relationship with Poles. It is necessary to speak Polish at least at a basic level, to know history, culture, and traditions. The applicant for the card must undergo an interview with the consul in Polish. If everything is in order with the documents and interview, after a month the applicant receives the documents.
But if it is possible not to go to Poland, it is better to choose another European country. This is explained by the fact that there are practically no conditions for migrants to live there while waiting to receive refugee status.
For example, you can choose the Czech Republic. Here, a lot of young people from Buryatia receive higher education. From the point of view of migration, this country is almost ideal: proximity to the borders of Russia, a language that is not difficult for Russians, a low level of crime, strong human rights organizations - such a measured European country. But, as experienced people say, you won’t make money here.
Or Germany. Various resources rate Germany as “moderately successful.” This country is the leader in the number of requests from political prisoners (anarchists, antifa, right-wingers, etc.) and LGBT activists.
But in terms of migration policy, European countries are overpopulated; France, Italy and Spain are facing this problem today. The situation is better in Sweden and Belgium. In the Netherlands, there are certain quotas for “humanitarian refugees” - these are residents of Syria, Somalia, and Afghanistan. You shouldn’t come to the UK without a consistently good income; in the country of Foggy Albion, only fugitive oligarchs have recently received refuge.
The Baltic countries have a fairly large internal outflow of population. The most popular country is Lithuania, but there is no special social program and quite high unemployment and corruption. Latvia has approved a new law on asylum, which will regulate their rights. Estonia is less favorable for Russians.
But there is a chance to request asylum in South Korea. According to some reports, a “Buryat contingent” of 30 thousand people is constantly present in the Land of Morning Freshness.
In addition to obtaining refugee status itself, you need to think about integration. There are a number of countries where integration processes are very complex, and it is necessary to obtain citizenship there.
There are countries in which there is social security for refugees during the integration period - benefits within certain limits, subsidized housing, assistance in finding a job, some rights to medical care, to study. But there are countries where there is none of this - a person receives status and that’s it. And he needs to somehow find housing, work, somehow learn the language.
In Finland, the applicant receives regular unemployment benefits during integration, but can work part-time, receiving an amount not exceeding that determined by law. If a child appears, the integration period is extended for another three years.
Being a refugee is not easy. In most host countries, refugees are the most vulnerable and powerless category of the population. Even having a full package of documents cannot guarantee confidence in the future and the fact that one day you will want to return home, but you cannot - your refugee status is immediately lost.
