Sagaalgan. Do we know everything about the history of the main Buryat holiday? Sagaalgan - Buddhist New Year in Siberia What is the number of sagaalgan in a year

When will Sagaalgan be in 2019, how is it prepared for and how is it celebrated, what are the traditions, as well as 8 Buddhist truths and 4 rituals performed in Sagaalgan.

The Sagaalgan holiday is a symbol of the arrival of spring and the Buddhist new year. In Russia, Sagaalgan is celebrated in Buryatia, Kalmykia, the republics of Komi and Tuva, as well as in the Altai Territory. Sometimes this holiday is called the White Moon.

How and when is it customary to celebrate the New Year among Buddhists?

The date of the Buddhist New Year celebration changes every year. It is determined using the lunar calendar. Most often, the day of celebration of Sagaalgan falls on a date between January and March. There are ancient tables to determine the date. Each region has its own, so the dates vary.

The white month originates from the first spring New Moon. In 2019, the Buddhist New Year falls on February 5th. The Mongolian peoples attach great importance to this holiday. In the Republics mentioned above, the first day of the celebration of Sagaalgan is declared a day off.

In Kalmykia, the Buddhist New Year is generally recognized national holiday. It is worth noting that in the Soviet Union it was forbidden to celebrate Sagaalgan. Only after the collapse of the USSR, the holiday was revived again. (see for 2019)

Sagaalgan Features

Sagaalgan, like any new year, is usually celebrated cheerfully, noisily and in the circle of close people. On the first day of the holiday, at dawn, the head of the family goes to the yard and asks his loved ones to be happy and healthy. Only after such a ceremony is it allowed to begin the celebration.

Friends, family and even neighbors are invited to visit. It is believed that prosperity depends on the number of people in the house. coming year. At the festive table, guests exchange gifts. Buddhists pay special attention to this moment. Each participant in the feast receives a gift. Nobody should be left out.

The owners dream that the first guest to come is a man. It is believed that then everything will be calm in the house and the family will live the next year in abundance.

Sagaalgan: history and modernity

The Tsagaan Sar holiday has an ancient origin. In Russia, for decades after the revolution of 1917, there was an active struggle against the church and faith. In Buryat-Mongolia (modern Buryatia), some of the traditions and customs were banned. Sagaalgan was also included in this list, since this holiday is a religious one.

Since 1920 it has been forbidden to celebrate the White Month. Those who violated the ban were persecuted and punished. After the end of the Great Patriotic War, local customs and traditions gradually began to revive. But officially allowed to celebrate Sagaalgan only in 1990. The Presidium of the Supreme Council of Buryatia issued a decree recognizing it as a national holiday.

The history of Sagaalgan dates back to the 13th century, when the grandson of Genghis Khan Kublai Khan issued an order to celebrate the border between spring and winter. After the formation of the Mongol Empire, the Mongols came into contact with a more enlightened and cultured people. Most of all they were influenced by the people of China. They taught the Mongols to use the lunar calendar. According to it, the New Year's Day falls on the first day of spring.

In February, in Mongolia and Buryatia, there was a period of the appearance of offspring in livestock. During this time period, milk was plentiful. They fed not only cattle breeders, but also their guests. The offer to taste dairy products sounds like “Sagaalagty”. Hence the name of the holiday. Sagaalgan in translation means "taste white food". Therefore, the month of its celebration is called the White month.

It should be noted that in ancient times the Buryats did not remember their birthday. They added a year of life to themselves on the day of the celebration of Sagaalgan, even if they were born just a month before it. How to remember all the Orthodox events of the coming year? No matter how long you have been a believer, you cannot do without the Orthodox calendar.

Previously, Tsagan Sar was celebrated only in the corners of Russia, densely populated by the Mongols. IN modern world everything is different. The celebration takes place even in the capital of our country - Moscow. In 2018, the Great Hall of the Russian Academy of Sciences was allocated for the celebration. By tradition, a prayer service and a feast took place, and the evening was diluted with a concert of the Baikal Song and Dance Theater. It is not known where the holiday will take place in 2019, but the festivities will be no less large-scale than in previous years.

Getting ready for the holiday

Preparation for Sagaalgan occupies a special place in the life of the Mongolian people. There are special rituals and customs. Three days before the celebration, special prayers are held in datsans (Buddhist temples). The next day, the ritual "Dugzhuuba" is performed. It represents cleansing and getting rid of everything superfluous. The ritual is carried out in several stages:

House and yard cleaning.
Taking out the trash to the street.
Dividing trash into 9 equal parts.
Laying out all the heaps in one line.
Garbage burning.
Lama performing traditional prayers.

At the end of the ritual, people wipe themselves with a piece of dough. It is believed that he takes away all troubles and failures from a person.

On the day before the new year, the goddess Palden Lhamo is praised. The Mongolian peoples believe that it protects all life on Earth. On the eve of the holiday, the goddess descends from heaven to go around her domain. Owners of houses together with their families must be at home.

Another rite of purification is called "Butuu uder". According to him, on the eve of the new year, it is necessary to fast. It is best not to eat anything during the day. It is believed that in this way a person gets rid of all negative emotions (anger, envy, filth). (see in 2019)

The preparation for the holiday ends with a gala dinner. In the evening, on the eve of Sagaalgan, guests were invited to the house, a table was laid, striking with a variety of dishes. About a dozen lamb dishes are prepared: lamb in broth, several types of black pudding, buuz and lamb's head. It was served only to the most honored guest. From dairy products, cottage cheese, salamat and cheese were put on the table. For dessert, it is customary to serve milk foam and cookies fried in boiling oil.

There is also a special attitude to alcoholic beverages during the celebration. It is undesirable to use them. But for those who wanted to try some alcohol, milk vodka was made.

Traditions and customs

The first day of the holiday began at dawn. The whole family, led by the owner of the house, went outside and brought offerings to the sun. After that, a sacrifice was made to the spirit of the area. On the eve, an altar was erected near each yurt. Family members first went around him in a circle, then knelt down and prayed.

In the modern world, this custom has been simplified. One man from each family goes to the local obo. There he offers honors to the sun, prays, asks for grace for his family and goes around the obo in a circle. It is also customary to kindle a fire and smoke incense.

Upon the return of the man home, the celebration begins. Guests are invited to the house, a festive table is set and gifts are prepared. Women are presented with scarves, tea, scraps of cloth, men are given tobacco or a Buddhist ritual scarf, and children are presented with sweets. On this day, it is customary to just relax and celebrate. By tradition, all outfits, tablecloths, dishes on the table and even gifts are selected white color.

The Buryats have a rule called the “rule of measure and sufficiency”. It means that there should be a measure in everything. Don't overeat or overeat. You are allowed to buy only what you really need. But once a year this rule is allowed to be broken. In Sagaalgan you need to eat your fill and taste all the dishes that are on the table.

How I told before, great importance Buddhists give to whoever enters the house first: a man or a woman. But, much more important than the gender of the guest is what kind of person he is, whether he has a large family, whether he has a high income, whether he is endowed with intelligence and “happiness” (the ability to make everyone around happy).

Guests were invited to the table in a certain order. In the northern part of the yurt, the most honored guests were seated, young men were located to their right, and women to their left. The feast always starts the same way. The head of the family cuts off a piece of lamb for each guest with his knife. The sharpness of the knife speaks of how good a master he is. Then, the mistress of the house distributes glasses of milk vodka to the guests. Etiquette obliges guests to drink or sip a little. Further, alcoholic beverages are allowed to refuse.

After all the participants of the celebration have eaten enough, walking around the yurts begins. First they visited the homes of the oldest members of the family. Meeting their guests is called "zolgoh". The younger guest stretches out his hands to the owner of the house, palms up, and he puts his palms on his hands. It turns out that the youth grabs the old man under the elbows. How to prepare yourself for the Resurrection of Christ and celebrate the main Orthodox holiday. Holiday traditions and the main secrets of the Sacrament.

At the end of the first day, all the inhabitants gathered in the dwelling of the oldest person, sang songs, played games and guessed. Old people, based on their own and folk experience, predicted the weather, the behavior of livestock and the quality of the offspring.

Buddhist New Year Rituals 2019

The Sagaalgan holiday includes many different rituals:

"Butuulhe". This is a ritual of release. People wanted to enter the new year without obligations, so they hurried to pay off all debts, put up with those with whom there was a quarrel, prayed and were cleansed of all sins. It is necessary to clean not only yourself, but also your home.
"Burkhan delgeelge". This ritual involves hanging around the house portraits of the Deities depicted on canvas. Various dishes were presented to them, lamps were placed and incense sticks were lit.
Hanging "hi morina". For the holiday, the inhabitants prepared the image of a winged horse, illuminated it in the temple and hung it on a tree or other hill. It was important that it develop in the wind. The winged horse is a symbol of life, protecting all the inhabitants of the yurt from diseases and troubles.
Ceremony "Tabag". A pyramid of their sweets (boov) is lined up on a plate. The number of layers is odd and depends on the age of the person to whom it is dedicated. For example, a three-layered pyramid is dedicated to a 30-year-old family member, while a nine-layered one is dedicated to nine Deities. The first layer of the pyramid symbolizes happiness, the second - suffering, and the third - happiness again.

There are several Buddhist truths that are reminiscent of biblical commandments. They must be followed the day before and during Sagaalgan:

Do not be jealous and do not say bad words.
Keep your word and always do what you promised.
Think over every word before you say it.
Honor your elders and give them the proper amount of attention.
Take care of your friends and loved ones.
Thoughts are material, so think only about the good.
Do quality work so that you do not have to repent of your deeds.
Help those who are weaker or poorer.

Survey:

Where do you usually celebrate Sagaalgan?

Houses.

At relatives.

What part of the holiday do you like the most, the feast or walking around the yurts?

Feast.

Walking.

Celebration white moon(Sagaalgan or Tsagaan-Sar) - Buddhist New Year, symbolizing the beginning of spring among the peoples of Buryatia, Kalmykia, the Republic of Tuva, as well as residents of certain regions of India, Mongolia, China and Tibet. What date will Sagaalgan 2018 be and how many days will it last? How is this holiday celebrated by Buddhists? What is the ritual component of the White Moon holiday?

When is Sagaalgan 2018 celebrated?

The date of the celebration of Sagaalgan is floating. This is due to the fact that it is calculated lunar calendar. Therefore, the Buddhist New Year is celebrated every year at different times. And if everything is very clear for the Orthodox - the New Year always comes on January 1st, then for the Buryats it is celebrated with the onset of the first spring new moon.

In 2018, Sagaalgan will begin to be celebrated on Friday, February 16 at sunrise. This day will become a non-working (weekend) in the following regions:

Kalmykia,
Buryatia,
Tyva,
Altai,
Zabaykalsky Krai.

In these republics, Sagaalgan is celebrated for almost a whole month. Due to the fact that family ties among the Buryats, they are strong and large enough, in order to go around all the relatives and stay as guests in every house, even a month may not be enough.

Until the 13th century, Sagaalgan was celebrated in autumn on September 22, on the day of the autumnal equinox. But, starting from 1267, by decree of the Mongol Khan Kubilai, the Buddhist New Year was moved to February - the first month of spring according to the lunar calendar.

Sagaalgan: Buryat Celebration Traditions

On the last day of the old year, which is referred to as "butuuder", Buddhists observe a one-day fast. Eating on this day is not recommended at all. This is necessary in order to cleanse the body, heart and soul of evil, envy, filth, slander and negative emotions.

It is also not recommended to sleep on the night before the holiday. You can occupy yourself in the dark half of the day by reading mantras. At the same time, it is necessary to wait for the early morning (4-5 hours), when Baldan-Lkhamo, the deity who gives happiness and good luck to all residents for the next year, enters the house.

The Buryats have one interesting custom, which is referred to as the "rule of measure and sufficiency." And this is the only rule from the ethics of everyday life of representatives of the Buddhist faith, which can be ignored in Sagaalgan. Its meaning is that you can not take more than you need and eat more than you want. On the Buddhist New Year, it is allowed to break this rule: you can buy everything you like and overeat at the festive table.

Ritual component of the holiday

Dishes quite rare for everyday life appear on the rich festive table in Sagaalgan. At the same time, the white color must necessarily dominate in the dishes. Even vodka must be white, that is, cooked in milk.

Traditional treats on Sagaalgan
Salamat	Porridge made from wheat, rye or barley flour with butter or sour cream
Buuzy	Large dumplings (like manti) with broth inside, which are eaten with hands
Urme	Milk dessert
Kurunga	Milk drink based on natural sourdough
Holiso	Dessert from cottage cheese, bird cherry and milk
Shaneshki	Sweet buns with various fillings
Sharbin	Unleavened flatbreads with minced lamb

Meat, in particular lamb, is also served on the table in various variations of dishes and technologies for their preparation.

In addition to treats, Sagaalgan has some more traditions and rituals that are typical only for this holiday.

Greetings on this day are different from traditional daily etiquette. The youngest person stretches out his hands first, while doing this with his palms up. In response, the elder lays his hands palm down on his. This form of greeting speaks of respect, help and support from the older generation to the younger one.

The tradition of exchanging gifts on the Buddhist New Year also has its own characteristics. The cost, form and prestige of the gift in this case are not dominant. The main respect and attention. Gifts are presented on a long ritual cloth called a khadag. The recipient of the gifts must wear a headdress and be face to face with the one who gives the gift.

Just like holiday food, gifts should be white, or at least packaged in white boxes.

Visiting begins only on the second day of the festivities. Children visit their parents, nephews and nieces visit their aunts and uncles, and grandchildren visit their grandparents. The first day is traditionally dedicated to the family.

Basic Truths of Buddhist Teachings

On the eve of the White Month holiday, it is important to listen to some Buddhist truths, which are somewhat reminiscent of Orthodox biblical commandments.

Refrain from envy and profanity.
Keep your word and keep your promise.
Think carefully about everything you want to say.
Show respect and consideration to elders.
Take care of your family and friends.
Do not think about the bad, because it can materialize.
Do the work so that you don't regret it later.
Help those who are weaker and poorer.

The White Moon holiday is celebrated not only in regions that support Buddhism. And even the capital did not ignore such an important day for Buddhists. In particular, in Moscow last year the Buryat diaspora celebrated Sagaalgan in the Great Moscow Circus.

Solemn speeches, songs and dances, as well as the most interesting theatrical performances - all this was present at the celebration of the Buddhist New Year in the capital in 2017.

Seeing off winter and the onset of the long-awaited spring is marked by the solemn celebration of the Buddhist New Year - Sagaalgan. It is celebrated mainly by the Turkic, Mongolian and indigenous peoples of the North. Many people call it the White Moon or Tsagan Sar.

In Russia, it is celebrated in Komi, Buryatia, Tuva, Altai Territory, Kalmykia. Sagaalgan in 2019 will begin on February 5 and will last more than a month. The date is variable and depends on the lunar calendar. Celebrations in honor of Sagaalgan are held in accordance with all ancient traditions that have come down to our time.

When Sagaalgan (Tsagan Sar) in 2019

The beginning of the New Year and its celebration, given the Buddhist, falls at the end of January. The celebration lasts until mid-March. An ancient astrological table is used to calculate the exact date.

Usually its onset is the first spring new moon. Therefore, when Sagaalgan will be in 2019, and in subsequent dates will change.

Often, due to the individuality of astrological calculations in different countries, the date may differ significantly and fall on different numbers of the calendar. Usually, at the very beginning of the celebration, the date of the celebration for the next year is determined and publicly announced. Along with this, forecasts of astrologers are also published.

History and traditions

The celebration is considered one of the most ancient and carries religious meanings. Sagaalgan in 2019 is a symbol of the renewal of the human soul and nature. Hope, joy and goodness, which are expected in the next year, meet with the purest and most open thoughts.

Previously, the White Month holiday was dedicated to the harvest in the new year. Often it was called the triumph of dairy products. It began to be celebrated in the fall, when the animals stopped milking and the prepared dairy products were lowered into the cellars. Of these, the main dishes were prepared for.

Time passed and gradually the date was moved to the end of winter. The grandson of the well-known Genghis Khan, Khan from the Kublai dynasty, ordered to celebrate the celebration at the beginning of the year, this tradition lived until the 14th century. A more generalized meaning and name change occurred at a time when Mongolia began to expel people in China. Tsagaan Sar began to symbolize the holiness and purity of the natural and human soul, bringing happiness and well-being of the renewed year to every home.

Since the middle of the 17th century, Tsagaan Sar has become popular precisely in the Buddhist faith and is gradually filled with the rites and rituals of this religion. By the beginning of the 19th century, it retains traditions and rituals, but it no longer matters the beginning of the year.

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Although the Kalmyks who inhabited the banks of the Volga and their current descendants - the inhabitants of the territory of Xinjiang, still celebrate it as the New Year. The ancient tradition of celebrating throughout the entire lunar month has remained only among a few nationalities. Today, only the first 5-6 days are considered solemn.

In Russia, the "white month" received an official celebration only in the 50s of the last century, before that it was banned. Since 2004, the celebration day has been declared a day off in some regions of the Russian Federation.

Particularly magnificent ceremonies are held in the Trans-Baikal Territory, Buryatia and Khakassia, and in territories where the descendants of the Mongols live. In 2019, when Sagaalgan will be in Buryatia, especially solemn celebrations are promised.

Preparing for the Buddhist New Year

Sagaalgan is a traditional holiday that involves religious and folk preparations and festivities. Folk customs include 15 rituals dedicated to the miraculous transformations of the Buddha.

Preparations for the Buddhist celebration begin a month in advance: the preparation of the sena for the winter ends, the house and yard are put in order, new festive dresses are sewn, new decorations are made. Moreover, old things must be burned.

For 15 days, prayers are heard from the datsans and scriptures. The main rite - fiery cleansing is performed on the 29th lunar day. In the dwellings, the walls are decorated with the faces of Buddhist deities, without fail with the lighting of lamps. It is believed that at this time the fire has a special power of cleansing and getting rid of everything old, bad and unnecessary.

In the festive meal during Tsagaan Sar, magic and ritual are also hidden. Buddhists believe that food has a special effect on the health and prosperity of the family, that it helps to achieve good harvests. Therefore, the tables are set these days with the most exquisite dishes, which not everyone can afford on a normal day. Attention is paid to dishes, dishes are placed in the most expensive one that is available in the house.

meal

On the festive tables of the Tsagan Sar holiday, dairy products and:

buuzy - resembles steamed dumplings or manti;
sharbin - belyashi made from unleavened dough;
lamb in broth;
blood sausage.

All members of the family participate in the preparation of the festive treat. Since the holiday is called the "White Moon", it is supposed to be celebrated in white clothes. So the table is covered only with a new white tablecloth, dishes are displayed in light colors. The main dishes are dishes based on milk, cottage cheese, cheese and sour cream. They are exhibited primarily on the Buddhist New Year holiday.

Aarsy is served as a national drink. Alcohol is prohibited during the Buddhist New Year.

celebration

The most important ceremony is held two days before the main celebration - "Dugzhuuba". It gives the acquisition of peace and prosperity, during which a person is cleansed of everything bad that can interfere with him in the new year.

Cleaned up after cleaning things, garbage and old junk taken out into the field and decomposed into nine approximately equal heaps located along one line. After reading the lama's prayer, the garbage is burned. At this time, people wipe their body with dough, thereby getting rid of various ailments.

worship of the keeper of fire;
worship of household deities.

It is customary to celebrate New Year's morning of the coming year with a Khural. The first greeting and congratulations with Sagaalgan is taken by the head of the family, leaving the house early in the morning, he must ask for health and well-being for the whole family. After these rituals, the celebrations begin. Guests are invited to the house, tables are laid and gifts are given.

Sagaalgan is a solemn holiday that marks the onset of the Buddhist New Year and the beginning of spring. The White Month or Tsagan Sar is celebrated by some Turkic, Mongolian and indigenous Arctic peoples. IN Russian Federation it is celebrated in all regions, but the most magnificent celebrations take place in Buryatia, the Altai Territory, Kalmykia, the Republics of Tyva and Komi. Sagaalgan in 2019 falls on February 5, and will be celebrated in accordance with the most ancient traditions that have survived to this day. The date of the cult holiday changes every year depending on the lunar calendar.

History

"White month" is considered one of the most ancient religious holidays. Sagaalgan symbolizes the renewal of not only nature, but also man. It carries hope and good expectations for the coming year, which should be met with pure and open thoughts. The "White Moon" has long been considered a celebration in honor of the harvest, and it was popularly called the holiday of dairy products. Tsagan Sar was celebrated in the fall, when the procurement of milk and dairy products for the winter ended. They were put on the festive table and a wide variety of dishes were prepared from them.

Over time, the date of the celebration was moved to the end of winter. Khan of the Kublai dynasty, who was the grandson of the legendary Genghis Khan, ordered to celebrate the holiday at the beginning of the year (according to a 12-year cycle). This continued until the 14th century, when Sagaalgan began to be celebrated in Mongolia, expelling peoples from China. The name of the holiday has changed and began to have a more generalized meaning. Tsagan Sar has become a symbol of holiness and purity, meaning happiness and prosperity, which brings the beginning of a new, renewed year.

Buddhist influence is widespread among the people. In the middle of the 17th century, the holiday began to include many rituals and rituals from Buddhism. Since the 19th century, Sagaalgan was no longer celebrated as the beginning of the year, but retained all the traditional rites. Among the Volga Kalmyks and their descendants, who still inhabit the territories of Xinjiang, it continues to be celebrated as the New Year (30 days). In ancient times, celebrations continued throughout the entire lunar month. At present, traditions have been preserved only among some peoples, in the rest of the world only the first days are celebrated magnificently.

Tsagan Sar or Sagaalgan was banned on the territory of the USSR in the early 30s. Its revival took place only in the middle of the 50s, and it received the official status of a national celebration in 1990. Since 2004, it has become a national holiday of the Republic of Kalmykia. The beginning of the "White Month" is an official holiday in several regions of the Russian Federation, and magnificent celebrations are held in Buryatia, Khakassia, the Trans-Baikal Territory and other territories inhabited by the descendants of the Mongolian peoples.

Determination of the date of celebrations

The celebration of the New Year according to ancient Buddhist traditions falls on the period from late January to mid-March (according to the Gregorian calendar). Its beginning always falls on the first new moon of spring in accordance with the lunar calendar. Every year, the date is calculated according to ancient astrological tables.

A feature of astrological calculus in different countries in some cases may give different numbers, which may differ. On the eve of the holiday, the official date for the start of the Buddhist celebration for the next year is called. Along with the date, astrological forecasts for all residents of the country are published.

Traditions

Lunar New Year holidays are widely celebrated in Mongolia, countries of Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In some of them, it is celebrated in accordance with ancient traditions throughout the month. In some regions of the Russian Federation, it is a national holiday and takes place over three days.

Celebrations are divided into cult (religious) and folk. According to folk customs, 15 main ceremonies are performed, each of which is dedicated to the miracles of the Buddha. Preparation for the holiday begins in a few days: you need to put the house and yard in order, finish all the household chores for harvesting hay and firewood in the village and villages. Women clean clothes and sew festive dresses, after which the old things must be thrown away.

Religious celebrations are held in datsans, where special prayers and sacred books are read for 15 days. On the eve, on the 29th day of the lunar month, a rite of purification by fire takes place. Images of the most revered Buddhist deities are hung on the walls, in front of which lamps are lit.

The festive meal also refers to the ritual and has a magical meaning. According to beliefs, food can affect the prosperity of the family and improve the future harvest. For celebrations, the most exquisite treats are prepared, which rarely appear on the dining table. Particular attention is paid to the utensils in which the dishes are served.

folk rites

The most significant is the ritual "Dugzhuuba", held two days before the holiday. This is a rite of purification of a person from everything bad and negative, which can prevent success in the new year. "Dugzhuuba" is an esoteric ritual that makes it possible to find peace and prosperity.

After cleaning the house and yard, garbage and old unnecessary things are laid out on the street (in the field) in 9 equal pieces on one straight line. After that, the garbage is burned under the lama's prayers, which should help cleanse oneself from troubles and misfortunes. People perform this ceremony with the help of pieces of dough, with which they wipe their body (cleansing themselves from diseases and adversities).

On the eve of the new year, all believers honor the heavenly goddess Palden Lhamo. She is the patroness of all living things. It is on the night before the New Year that she goes around her possessions, so it is very important to be in her house from the evening until the next one, surrounded by close and dear people. During the day, two rituals should be performed: worship of the owner of the fire and all household deities that preserve the comfort and well-being of the family.

The morning of the coming year is necessarily met with a Khural. The head of the family, the head of the family, is the first to greet the coming Sagaalgan. He must leave the house with the first rays of the sun and ask for well-being and health for all loved ones. After the rituals, the celebrations begin. In the first days of the new year, it is very important to give gifts to all your relatives and friends. It is imperative to invite as many guests as possible to the house, among which a special place at the table is allocated to relatives and neighbors.

One of the main signs of the holiday is the first guest. If a man enters the house, peace and prosperity will reign in the family all year long. The ritual "Zolgoho" or "Zolgolgo" is a manifestation of respect for all relatives and friends. The ceremony is held in the family circle: first, the senior members of the family accept congratulations, after which relatives, from blood to distant ones, congratulate. Greetings and congratulations are held in strict accordance with tradition. After everyone congratulated each other, the owners of the house and guests sit down at the festive table. Before leaving, it is customary to give gifts.

Festive meal

Since ancient times, dairy products have been considered the most important treats. Be sure to put meat treats on the table: buuzy is a dish resembling steamed dumplings or manti. On the eve, all family members help the hostess to sculpt holiday buuzes, you can use those prepared and frozen in advance. Also, lamb in broth, black pudding and unleavened whites sharbin are put on the table.

It is customary to meet the white month in all white, and the table is no exception. The hostesses cover the table with a white tablecloth, decorating it with the best light dishes. By tradition, dairy products and snacks made from cottage cheese, milk, sour cream and cheese are put first. Traditional aarsy is used as a drink. Alcoholic drinks It is not customary to serve on the Buddhist New Year.

Video about Sagaalgan holiday

The White Moon Holiday (Sagaalgan or Tsagaan-Sar) is a Buddhist New Year, symbolizing the beginning of spring among the peoples of Buryatia, Kalmykia, the Republic of Tuva, as well as residents of certain regions of India, Mongolia, China and Tibet.

What date will Sagaalgan 2018 be and how many days will it last? How is this holiday celebrated by Buddhists? What is the ritual component of the White Moon holiday?

The date of the celebration of Sagaalgan is floating, the site reports. This is due to the fact that it is calculated according to the lunar calendar. Therefore, the Buddhist New Year is celebrated every year at different times. And if everything is very clear for the Orthodox - the New Year always comes on January 1st, then for the Buryats it is celebrated with the onset of the first spring new moon.