These 5 people at first sight looked like ordinary Buryat men, but after they changed clothes to these bright costumes and began doing strange things it became clear – they are the very shamans of Buryatia…
This guy was a driver who brought the others to the sacred place, but he took part in the ceremony too.
After the “reincarnation” the shamans unpacked “the shaman’s kit” – bread, cookies, cheap candies, cigarettes, tea, vodka, milk and stuff like that. They also said that everybody can get such a kit in any shop without any explanations.
They put bread, cookies, candies and tobacco on a big plate – as a gift to spirits…
… and left it all on a cliff.
After that they drew round the fire, circumambulated it, “fed” it with milk, vodka, tobacco and melted butter. They also spoke something very quietly.
Then the shamans threw their bowls on the cliff and cleaned them up.
They fired another fire and put there a few omuls – another gift to spirits.
Finally they took a tambourine, carried it over the fire and the elder shaman began singing and playing it very softly.
Everybody closed eyes. Later they explained that they “saw different things” while the shaman was playing and singing. One said that he saw “horsemen on camels and striped horses waking across Baikal”…
Everything ended quite ordinary – they sat down round the fire, had some milk and vodka, ate a little rice, than changed their clothes back, went to the car and drove away.
Location: Buryatia
via akharitonov
Nice.
They’re not Shamen. They’re just drunks
paganism! idolatry! we need to open the eyes of those people, to permit them to see Christ! what does the local priest? he should be there to enlight them about Christianity!
Hahaaa,its their culture,they should not convert into christianity!
Hey, I am Don, the only one! You are not Don!
The Great Shamen of Buryatia have spoken and submitted their sacrifice to the Gods! Relax, everything will be alright and the World will not end for the time being!
A word of advice from a fellow tree-hugger to The Great Shamen of Buryatia:
First, don’t dress from Western clothes into Eastern clothes in front of the camera, it ruins the whole experience for the Western viewers.
Second, don’t be afraid to wear furs, animal hides and things made from animals here and there. It looks even more authentic.
Third, feel free to be dramatic and throw colored powder and herbs into the air, fire and around for visual effects.
Fourth, don’t wear Western clothes with your Eastern ritual clothes before, during and after the rituals, it cheapens your status.
Five, please do not start exposing yourselves in an attempt to get more attention for your cause like those Femens.
May you have many blessings from the Gods.
Musa
You left out… Don’t be afraid to consume mass quantities of vodka so the squirrels will be able to talk to you.
Amen
Amen to what Don said. They should at least be told of Christ! Onward Christian soldiers!
“When you can snatch the Vodka bottle from my hand, you are ready, Grasshopper”