Kalmykia celebrates Tsagaan Sar national holiday

Today in Elista, the Central Hurul "Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni" has hosted a solemn prayer service on the occasion of the Kalmyk national holiday named Tsagaan Sar and symbolizing the advent of spring. Alexei Orlov, head of the republic, issued a decree announcing March 5 to be a day off.

By tradition, the holiday Tsagaan Sar (White Month) marks the first day of the month of Dragon according to the lunar calendar. This year it fell on March 5, opening the Oriental Year of Iron Hare. In olden times this day marked the start of migrations to new pastures.

The Tsagaan Sar in Kalmykia is both a folk and religious holiday. On the first day of the White Month all the Kalmyk temples hold solemn services dedicated to the goddess Okon Tengri - Patroness of all Kalmyks.

In old days, they used to slaughter cattle on the eve of the Tsagaan Sar, as during the holiday it was forbidden to do it. From the morning they hung out new clothes on a rope, aired up all the clothes, and boiled mutton or horse meat.

Now on this day every family usually makes flavoured Kalmyk tea, which is cooked from milk, butter and nutmeg. A mandatory element of the holiday is the meal named bortsoki, cooked from biscuit dough and fried in boiling oil.