The White Moon Holiday (Sagaalgan or Tsagaan-Sar) is the Buddhist New Year. Basic Rules of Sagaalgan Special New Year's Greeting Gesture
The advent of the Buddhist New Year lunar calendar in Irkutsk was celebrated with a massive flash mob "Global Yohor - 2016". Standing in three circles, the traditional Buryat round dance on the square near the Trud sports complex was led by hundreds of people of different nationalities and religions. Dozens of countries joined the action - from the USA to Estonia, video greetings with dancing people from all over the world were shown on the huge large TV screen of the Trud stadium.
Each time the onset of the New Year according to the Buddhist calendar falls on a different date. The next circle of life in this tradition can begin to be measured at the end of January and in the middle of March - it all depends on the phases of the moon and astrological tables. In 2016, Sagaalgan fell on February 9th. Solemn services are held in datsans - khurals, a special rite of purification - gutor - is held in houses. And, of course, festive tables are laid everywhere.
- We go to visit from the youngest to the oldest, we give gifts. In my family, alcohol is not supposed to be drunk on this day. We give preference to white food - milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese. Well, of course, we cook poses. In Buryatia, they play national games on Sagaalgan. There are also horse races, wrestling and archery competitions,” says Natalya Dynzhinova, a native of Ulan-Ude and now a student at IrGAU.
On February 9, together with classmates and friends, she came to the Trud stadium to perform the traditional Buryat dance yokhor. There are a lot of movements in the old round dance. The main eight movements were taught by the young members of the Angara folklore ensemble. The team, created in 2007, is made up of students from Irkutsk universities. The children learn traditional dances of the peoples of the Baikal region - from Buryat to Evenki. But the main choreographic heritage is still yokhor.
– Dance movements are described in special literature. It is known that the tradition of yokhor came from the time of battue hunts - this is the XIII-XIV centuries. When our ancestors got their own food, they covered a large area with a paddock and slaughtered game, driving it into a circle, and then danced around the fire until morning. In the dance, in the yokhor, for example, elements relating to the habits of animals are shown - a bear dance, deer running. Our choreography comes from everyday life, - explains Nikolai Shargaev, the leading methodologist of the traditional department of the Center for the Culture of Indigenous Peoples of the Baikal Region.
Only in the territory of the Irkutsk region there are 150 varieties of yokhor. On the first day of the Year of the Fire Monkey according to the Lunar calendar, the flash mob participants learned elements of Tunkin and Ekhirite. Some movements mean the greatness of the Sayan mountains, others - the fast running of horses along the Baikal steppes. It was not difficult to learn them, but it was necessary to make physical efforts during an almost hour-long dance marathon. The author of the lines was personally convinced of this, deciding to join the round dance. The neighbors in the circle have the same impressions.
“It’s cooler than fitness, but it’s fun,” laughs the Russian girl Sveta on my right hand.
“Yes, it’s great, the main thing is that you can’t open your hands,” her friend Masha, a Buryat, answers from the left.
The participants of the action first formed six smaller circles, and then united into three huge round dances. On the big screen of the stadium - dancing yokhor people from different countries peace. Residents of Spain, Thailand, Estonia sent their video greetings, South Korea, China, USA, Italy and other countries. Representatives of different peoples. Natives of Buryatia, who now live in Los Angeles, are having fun on a green lawn to ethnic music, Buryats-Parisians show their choreographic skills near the walls of the Louvre. Handicapped wheelchair users of the Ulan-Ude "Society Without Barriers" and even convicted colony-settlements near Ulan-Ude also joined hands.
- I myself am Russian, however, I have Tatar roots. Unfortunately, grandparents died, and many traditions were lost, and parents did not have time to adopt it all. I regret it. But I try to go to different traditional holidays, - Maria Martynova from Irkutsk shares her impressions. I love folk events because they bring people together. And such dances are generally something special. You do not know your neighbor, but you feel that we are all people of the world. We are brothers and sisters, we are one.
The holiday of the White month, from which, according to legend, spring begins, has just started. During February, Irkutsk will host about a dozen ceremonial events. So, on February 13 at 12.00 in the Gorky Palace of Culture, Irkutsk shamans will celebrate the New Year. You need to bring white food, cookies, gingerbread or other sweets with you.
According to Alexander Amagzaev, director of the Center for the Culture of Indigenous Peoples of the Baikal Region, on February 13, a gala concert dedicated to Sagaalgan will also take place at the Irkutsk Musical Theater. About 10 folk groups of the Irkutsk region will take part in it. On February 22, Sagaalgan for children will also be held for the first time in the Gorky Palace of Culture. And at Trud, the celebrations in honor of the Buddhist New Year have not yet ended. On March 6, there will be a cultural and sports festival "In the Shine of the White Moon" with the championship of the Irkutsk region in Buryat wrestling and the final of the Miss Asia Irkutsk-2016 contest.
The international tourist project "Fairytale Sagaalgan in Buryatia-2016" began its procession through the cities of the republic. Characters of New Year's folklore of Russia, Buryatia, Mongolia, Slovakia and China participate in it. On February 6, their delegation of fairy-tale characters visited Kyakhta, Novoselenginsk and Gusinoozersk, and the next day - the tourist complex "Stepnoy nomad" in the Zaigraevsky district of Buryatia and the Ethnographic Museum of Ulan-Ude, UlanMedia news agency reports.
Buryat "Santa Claus" Sagan-Ubgun. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
The event "Fairytale Sagaalgan" in our republic is held for the eighth time, we can say that it has become traditional for us. First of all, we are trying to expand our tourist season, fill the winter period with events. This event has been awarded by the government Russian Federation, it was evaluated at the federal level. And of course, we would like to give the children a piece of a fairy tale, so that a fairy-tale character from another country comes to them, so that on the eve of the New Year Eastern calendar every family had festive mood, - said Ekaterina Mukhina, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus.
Slovak Saint Mikulas. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
This time the following fairy-tale characters participated in the project: the Buryat "Santa Claus" Sagan-Ubgun (White Elder), the Baikal Santa Claus from Slyudyanka, Saint Mikulash from Slovakia, the Mongolian "Santa Claus" Uvlin Uvgun, accompanied by "Snow Maiden" Sasan Okhin, and also the Chinese Monkey King and the Evenk Mother Winter. In addition, the deputy mayor of the Slovak city of Bardejov, Milos Mikula, arrived with Mikulas. Recall that the action is timed to coincide with Sagaalgan, the new year according to the eastern calendar, which begins on the night of February 8-9.
Mongolian "Santa Claus" Uvlin-Ubgun. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
The first city of the festive route was Kyakhta, which in the old days was one of the cities of the "Great Tea Road". Her New Year's characters visited on February 6, the delegation included Sagan-Ubgun, Uvlin-Ubgun with Sasan Ohin, Baikal Father Frost and Saint Mikulash. First, the guests were shown the Kyakhta Museum of Local Lore, where they demonstrated the exhibits, then they were treated to tea, showed the atmosphere and traditions of old merchant houses. Then the New Year's characters performed at the festive fair. There they were solemnly greeted by the head of the Kyakhtinsky district Alexander Buyantuev and the mayor of Kyakhta Evgeny Stepanov. After that, youth dance groups performed in honor of the guests, then the delegation was invited to a yurt to taste the Buryat hospitality, then a dinner was waiting for the guests in one of the restaurants in the city. The head of the Kyakhta region made solemn speeches, at the same time talking about the project of a new customs checkpoint on the border with Mongolia, for which a private investor has already been found.
Mongolian "Snow Maiden" Sasan Ohin. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
In addition, Kyakhta has established a twinning relationship with the Slovak city of Bardeev.
The purpose of our visit is to establish cultural and tourist ties between Slovakia and Buryatia, twinning with your cities, we hope for constant cooperation in the field of tourism, - said Milos Mikula.
Deputy Mayor of the city of Bardeev Milos Mikula. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
It can be noted that the history of Kyakhta on the Great Tea Road can also become a "bait" for tourists in Buryatia. Recall that in the "Strategy-2030" the development of the tourism sector is considered one of the priority areas.
Baikal Santa Claus. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
On the way back, "international Santa Clauses" stopped at Novoselenginsk. There they attended a festive concert at the local house of culture, then visited the Museum of the Decembrists. There they were shown exhibits, told the story of the exiled rebels who taught the Buryats to read and write, the glorious history of the Selenginsky Infantry Regiment, the schoolchildren played miniature scenes for them. For example, one of them portrayed "Peter the Great's arab" Hannibal, who was serving his sentence in the Selenga prison. The next stop was Gusinoozersk, where the guests performed on the New Year's stage set up in one of the city's squares.
Two monkey kings. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
The next day, a delegation of fairy-tale characters visited the Stepnoy Nomad tourist complex near Atsagat in the Zaigraevsky district. There they were joined by new fairy-tale characters - two Chinese "Monkey Kings". There, "Santa Clauses" also performed at a festive concert in front of visitors to the complex. Ethnic creative groups of the Buryats, as well as "Semei" and Tatars performed at the concert.
Evenki mother-winter. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
After that, the delegation went to Ulan-Ude to the Ethnographic Museum, where they were joined by another folklore character: the Evenk Mother Winter. By the way, this is one of the deities of the Evenk shamanic pantheon. By the way, the "Buryat Santa Claus" White Elder Sagan-Ubgun is revered as a deity both in Buddhism and in Buryat shamanism, where he is called Burkhan Sagan Garbal.
At the monument to Bestuzhev in Novoselenginsk. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
In the ethnographic museum, folklore characters also had to take part in the New Year's entertainment program, also related to the theme of the Great Tea Road. The program included all kinds of puzzles, quests, performances by artists.
In the Kyakhta Museum of Local Lore. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
There are so many impressions about Buryatia that it is difficult to single out something: these are rituals, and clothes, and traditions, this is the very meeting of the new year according to the lunar calendar. Thank you very much to the organizers for the invitation, I will take a lot of positive impressions with me to Slovakia, - said "Saint Mikulas" in good Russian, which he also mastered while studying in the Soviet Union.
In Kyakhta. Photo: Vasily Tararuev, UlanMedia
Fairy-tale characters will amuse the residents of Buryatia until February 9th. Recall that this is not the first year when New Year characters from different nations come to the republic.
WHITE MOON HOLIDAY
SAGAALGAN - 2016
On February 9, 2016, a new year will come according to the Buddhist calendar - the year of the Red Fire Monkey.
According to Buddhist tradition, before the New Year (in Buryat - Sagaalgan) is accepted worthy of carrying out old year: do a big cleaning of the house, as well as take part in cleansing ceremonies.
February 5, Friday, at 18:00 lamas will hold rite of blessing offerings specially made for Sagaalgan.
February 6, Saturday, from 10:00 prayer will be held throughout the day Ten Protectors of the Teaching - Arban Hangal(Gombo, Gongor, Shagdar, Choyzhal, Lhamo, Sendema, Shalshi, Namsaray, Zhamsaran and Tsanba). A prayer service is held with a request for the protection of all living beings, for the removal of obstacles and obstacles on the path of following the Teachings of the Buddha.
February 7, Sunday, at 10:00 will pass Sahyusan Khural. FROM 15:00 prayer will be held Taban Kharyuulga, contributing to the elimination of obstacles, false views, various troubles, sorrows, diseases of the body and mind, overcoming the harmful influence of external factors. During the khural, the lamas read ritual texts aimed at averting harm, which include prayers addressed to the White Tara, the White Umbrella Tara, the Green Tara, as well as the great text "Heart Sutra" ("Shernin" - Bur. language) and a special text " Hamchu Nagbo "- to eliminate the effects of bad thoughts, evil tongues, the consequences of bad dreams.
At 17 o'clock lamas will begin to read a special prayer service Dugzhuuba, after which they will divorce the ritual bonfire. This rite is aimed at getting rid of the sorrows, sins and sorrows of the outgoing year. It is held two days before the new year according to the Buddhist calendar. For the fire, parishioners make dough at home (only flour and water, without any additives) and rub it in small pieces. The dough must first be rolled on the forehead - symbolically collecting bad thoughts on it, then around the mouth - collecting bad words, on the chest - purifying the soul, then in the palms - as if winding unseemly deeds on the dough. You can also roll the dough over the entire surface of the body, imagining that everything bad is drawn out of it: diseases, spoilage, negative emotions. Then these small pieces of dough are wrapped in napkins or paper (in no case in polyethylene!), brought to the datsan and thrown into the ritual fire. At the same time, the lamas are preparing the so-called "soor" - a high pyramid of slats, paper and dough crowned with a skull, resembling an arrowhead. Under ritual prayers, the bad karma of the community is “invested” in it for last year, and then solemnly burned on a separate fire as a symbol of spiritual purification.
February 8, Monday - fasting day (butuu uder, or "closed day"): from 10:00 - Sahyusan Khural, from 15:00 - prayer service Mandal Shiva(praising the Green Tara).
FROM 22:00 to 5:00 February 9 - solemn prayer service Baldan Lhamo, dedicated to the meeting of the New Buddhist Year of the Red Fire Monkey.
February 9, Tuesday, at 5 am solemn prayer begins Sidor Lhamo, the onset of Sagaalgan will be celebrated, there will be an exchange of hadaks (special multi-colored scarves), a rite of invoking good luck and prosperity will be held, all those present will be able to taste white food (food that contains milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter).
In the tradition of Tibetan-Mongolian Buddhism, the New Year's festive prayer service is the first of the six most important annual holidays - khurals. The celebration of the New Year in Tibet acquired a Buddhist content only at the beginning of the 15th century, when the famous Tibetan reformer of Buddhism and the founder of the Gelug school Tsongkhava developed the rules for holding holidays in Buddhist monasteries. Tsongkhava timed the celebration for the New Year Monlam Chenmo (Great Prayer- Tib.). This holiday lasts for 15 days and is dedicated to the memory of 15 miracles which, according to legend, Buddha Shakyamuni performed in the Indian city of Shravasti. This year, Monlam Chenmo will be held February 9th to February 23rd.
At the same time, it is accepted on the second day of Sagaalgan, 10 February, Wednesday, hang chii morina- perform a launch ceremony "horses of the wind of luck." Lamas will conduct a special ritual of consecration of hiy morins - Hi Morin Sun. "Fortune Wind Horse" is a symbol showing the state of a person's well-being.
On day 15 Monlam Chenmo,February 23, Tuesday, from 10:00 lamas will hold a festive prayer service Chonprul Duisen. February 24, Wednesday, will be read Dodudba is a text from the Prajnaparamita Sutra.February 25, Thursday, from 10:00 special Sahyusan Khural, dedicated to the end of the Monlam Chenmo holiday.
Sagaalgan celebrated for a whole month, this is the most favorable time for purification rites, for visiting an astrologer lama, from whom you can find out what to do and what to avoid in the coming year, you can also invite a lama home to perform a cleansing ceremony for your home.
New Year's Eve is noisy, the long weekend is over, the work again takes us into its well-trodden rut... Have you already forgotten those wishes that you made, holding glasses of champagne in your hands and counting the last seconds of the outgoing year? How so?! You can't be so frivolous! After all, the fulfillment of what we dreamed about under the chiming clock depends on new life! So we quickly remember everything and get down to business ...
Mid-February- this is a silver time of rest and purification, a period of transformation into a butterfly. For those who were born during this period, in 2018 will be fabulously lucky.
When will Sagaalgan be in 2018
FROM February 16 a period of strong winds will begin, turquoise water is the element of this time. IN 00 hours 05 minutes will come to us Sagaalgan - shamanic New Year according to the Buddhist calendar. The time will come to rule Yellow Earth Dog. However, about the main shamanic holiday later. Let's start, as they say, from the very beginning ...
First and second week of February. We celebrate the Shamanic New Year 2018.
Dear Carlos Castaneda spoke about the shamanic concept of "assemblage point", but hid the details of this very assembly. Therefore, we will have to take the initiative. Let's take as a basis the following statement: "assembly point" can be any action that destroys familiar programs. Even if it is non-destructive, we can manage, perhaps, without revolutions. Let's just try to change the usual course of events, to reject the routine.
1st of February go to the mirror. Look into your eyes. Would you like to go further in life with this person? If not, think about what you would like to change about yourself. Start small - with a real sincere smile. With a smile to myself. Would you say strange? Nothing weird, trust me. Many of our troubles are due to the fact that we do not know how to say a kind word to ourselves, we do not have time in the confusion to rejoice at our good intentions and especially deeds.
By the way, there is a sign: if 1st of February, on Makariev's day, you will see drops - it will be early spring. The first day sets the weather for the whole of February. And here February 6- on the day of Aksinya Spring Pointer - you can find out the weather for the whole spring.
Third week of February
The 14th of February- our favorite holiday holiday! Valentine's Day is ruby day, as I call it. Color is especially important here. It is known that cars painted in any of the shades of red (including ruby) are less likely to get into accidents. Why? Yes, because they have very long and strong optical waves.
They quickly reach consciousness. It is believed that red is the color of sexuality, strength. If you are having romantic failures or need additional financial income, buy red underwear on the waxing moon and put it on for Valentine's Day!
For those who already have a certain wealth, I recommend keeping the red 500-euro bill in your wallet at all times as fiat. It is important to agree with yourself: “I have a bill in my wallet, and I don’t spend it, no matter what!” When she is constantly with you, the subconscious mind tunes in as follows: “I have money. I always have money. I have money under any circumstances. And not a ruble, and not some green dollar, and not even one euro, but as many as five hundred! This is, if not a fortune, then a very decent amount! I always have money, and they are with me. Your beautiful money does not just lie in your wallet, does not just “walk” with you to work, visit and shop, but gives you peace of mind and confidence in the future.
In the middle of the month -February, 15- Orthodox celebrate the Presentation of the Lord. This is not only a great religious holiday, but also a time for omens and divination. Don't miss the moment!
As I already said, February 16, 2018 Sagaalgan is coming. He should be met in white - that color symbolizes happiness and prosperity. The Shamanic New Year begins on the first day of the second lunar month following the winter solstice. Sagaalgan is a great time to look into tomorrow. My ancestors knew perfectly how to predict the future, for example, using a specially prepared lamb shoulder. In the absence of a spatula, you can pour wax into the water and see what the figures look like. If suddenly you manage to make out the silhouette of an animal in a frozen piece, this sure sign good luck and soon prosperity. Turn on your fantasy! As a shamanic gift on Sagaalgan, please accept my proven wish-fulfilling hex:
The earth is my body
Water is my blood.
Air is breath
Fire is my spirit
We are one!
The whole truth - come out
Everything is false - go away!
As I want, so be it!
No one can cancel my conspiracy!
Fourth week of February. Follow the signs of fate!
February 22 look at the sky, look at the birds, look at the trees and realize that there is a huge power behind us. It feeds the seas, winds, gives life to animals and, of course, people. Moreover, for those of us who understand it, feel it and call for help, the energy of the Earth will provide everything that is lacking for complete happiness. The question is, what is happiness? But no one will give you this understanding - here, please, act on your own. Just look at the birds and think: “But they are happy! Perhaps because they do not create barriers for themselves ... "
February 23- Defender of the Fatherland Day. For me, as for a man, this is a very important holiday: all female part our family always congratulates loved ones. My mother is proud of me, and this always warms my heart. May it be the same in your home. Dear ladies, do not skimp on kind words and smiles. Remember: protectors are not born, they are made. And a significant role in this belongs to you!
In the last week of February, pay special attention to the signs by which the world speaks to us. For example, the colder the last week of February, the warmer it is in March. And if 24 February, in the Vlasev frosts, you will see that the roads have melted - it's time to clean your feet in winter. All this folk omens, certainly. However, you need to acquire your own signs, so to speak, personal. There is no better period than the last days of the second month.
In all cases of life, shamans see the intervention of the spirits of Heaven, Earth, Mountains, Water, Ancestors. For me, the connection with nature, the feeling of its rhythms and harmony is a familiar way of being. I know that everything around is alive, animated. “It is a great sin to cause any harm to nature - this is what shamanic wisdom teaches. Why am I? Yes, at the end of the month Higher power will especially closely observe our every step, paying tribute. Remember this. Do good and it will come back to you a hundredfold.
What is WHITE MONTH?
Imagine how lucky the Buryats are - they have more new year holidays than the Russians. Ask which ones and why? Now I'll tell you.
Buryatia is the Republic of the Russian Federation, therefore Russian laws apply on its territory, including holidays. Therefore, the New Year, which is a public holiday in Russia, is celebrated in Buryatia in the same way as throughout the world: from December 31 to January 1. Buryats, Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and representatives of other nationalities (Buryatia is a multinational republic) will celebrate the New Year 2016 in unison, joyfully and tasty. Then many will once again celebrate the Old New Year on the night of January 13-14 (a truly unique holiday). But on February 8, 2016, all residents of Buryatia will celebrate the New Year according to the Chinese lunar calendar, it is on February 8, 2016 that the year of the Fiery Red Monkey will come, and the White Month - Sagaalgan will come to Buryatia. Since 1991, the New Year according to the Chinese calendar has become in Buryatia official holiday, this day is declared a day off in the republic, and if it falls on Saturday or Sunday, then the day off moves to the first working day following it. They are so lucky - they have three New Years. I won’t talk about the celebration of our common traditional New Year: everything is like ours - a Christmas tree, tangerines, Russian salad, herring under a fur coat, Blue Light, congratulations from the president, etc. But about Sagaalgan it is necessary to tell in more detail.
Well, firstly, this holiday, which embodies the transition from winter to spring and the onset of the New Year, has its roots in the 13th century, it was established by a descendant of Genghis Khan, Khan Kublai. The name of the holiday Sagaalgan was born from the Mongolian language, and in translation, as you already understood, means the White month or the Milky month. The festivities last for a whole month, and during this period, preference in food is given to dairy products and products. white color. Festive clothing must also be white or light colors. The white color for the Mongolian-speaking peoples, which include the Buryats, is a symbol of purity, holiness, prosperity and happiness. The holiday begins on the eve of the fact that in front of the datsan (Buddhist temple) a large ritual fire is lit, into which all those who come to worship throw old, unnecessary things, various rubbish, thus symbolically getting rid of everything outdated that interferes with life: misfortunes, grief, troubles; to enter the New Year renewed, not burdened by the baggage of old thoughts, worries and sadness. Relatives, relatives, friends and acquaintances prepare gifts for each other in advance, often white, and at the dawn of the first day of Sagaalgan they exchange them. The first gift usually goes to the oldest and most respected member of his family, then they always give gifts to children. In general, in Buryatia, people of the older generation are especially respectful. Throughout the month of Sagaalgan, festivities continue, without interruption from work, of course, when they meet, everyone congratulates each other, wishes health, prosperity, happiness, joy and good luck. This holiday is closely intertwined with religious and family traditions and customs. A wonderful holiday that brings families together, teaches friendship, respect and sincere generosity.
Happy holiday to you all, Happy New Year 2016!
