Photo: dostup1.ru
Russian Buddhists celebrated the New Year according to the Eastern calendar on the night of February 5, TASS reports. The year of "yellowish earth pig" started at dawn. Sagaalgana, as the holiday is called, has no exact date. It is calculated according to the lunar calendar. People visit their friends and relatives during the following month.
The celebration of Sagaalgan is widespread in Buryatia, Trans-Baikal region and Ust-Orda Buryat District of the Irkutsk region. The first day of the Eastern New Year is the official holiday here. It begins with prayer and traditional rituals.
The main celebrations of the White Month (another name for Sagaalgan) in Buryatia are held in Ulan-Ude. The festival of national culture, a theatrical performance and merrymaking are planned there. Buddhist White Elder Sagaan Ubgen is the main character. His fairytale "colleagues", Fathers Frost from Greece and Uzbekistan will also congratulate the residents.
Celebrations in Trans-Baikal region are concentrated in Aginskoe village. They organize Tzam ritual dance, sing ceremonial songs, and hold a parade in folk costumes.
Global Yokhor will be performed in Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Okrug. It is a round dance with chants.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian Buddhists. According to him, it is extremely important that Buddhist communities are involved in the life of the country. They develop cooperation with public and state organizations. President also noted their great contribution to the work with younger generation and to charity. “Such remarkable work deserves the deepest respect,” Russian leader’s message of congratulations says.
Russkiy Mir
