When sagaalgan v. Sagaalgan and Ikenipke. How and when do the peoples of Buryatia celebrate the New Year? Ritual mutual greeting

For the change of year Wooden Goat according to the eastern calendar, the year comes red fire monkey which will start February 9, 2016- after the completion of the first full cycle of the moon, counting from the day of the winter solstice. The next Eastern New Year will be celebrated at dawn on the 9th (beginning of the first day of the lunar month).

The normal cycle of the lunar calendar is 12 years. Full, or Big, cycle - 60 years. It consists of five ordinary cycles of 12 years. Each 12 year cycle is based on a legend. It says that the Buddha, before leaving the Earth, called all the animals to him. However, only 12 of them came to say goodbye to the Buddha. Parting with them, the Buddha gave each of them one year of reign. The years were presented in exactly the order in which the animals ran to the Buddha: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

A big holiday is approaching - Sagaalgan. Your attention to the most detailed instructions on how to meet this bright day.

As a rule, preparations for the celebration begin long before the start of the holiday, usually a month before the start of the holiday. For the future, they prepare dairy food - sour cream, aarsu, butter - meat and other products. The farm is carefully cleaned, garbage is taken out of the yard. Perfect purity symbolizes the purity of human thoughts. Otherwise, deities, creatures from the ten directions of the world and other guests will not enter the house.

Sagaalgan is the birthday of every Mongol. Remember how we prepare for it. The Mongolian peoples say: how you celebrate the new year, so you will spend it.

DUGZHUUBA - burning of sins

On the 29th day of the lunar calendar - this year it falls on February 7- held rite "Dugzhuuba", symbolizing the destruction in fire of the enemies of faith, and which all Buddhists try to visit.

In the ritual fire "Dugzhuuba" all the impurities of the body, speech and mind of each person are burned. To do this, the laity bring with them pieces of dough, cotton wool or paper, with which they first wipe their body, after which they throw them in the place where the entire Sor will be burned.

The rite of "Dugzhuuba" is held in datsans usually two days before Sagaalgan. For this rite is made Sor- a tall pyramid topped with a skull made of slats, paper and dough, resembling an arrowhead.

Under ritual prayers, the bad karma of the community over the past year is "invested" in Sor and then solemnly burned at the stake.

The fight against the enemies of faith, symbolizes and linga rite: a figurine of a torma is also molded for him, personifying evil and enemies of faith, which is then solemnly cut into 12 parts and burned as a sacrifice to the lord of death, Yama.

The next day after "Dugzhuuba" - the thirtieth day according to the lunar calendar - the "Mandal Shiva" Khural is held in datsans. Last day of the new year according to the lunar calendar February 8) is "closed afternoon" (butuu uder).

Butuu uder

On this day, you need to clean up the home altar in a new way, be sure to place offerings to the deities in the form of meat dish, and " tobacco"- a ritual offering (bread, gingerbread, cookies, bova, sweets, refined sugar, marshmallows, etc.), consisting according to the rules of nine floors, crowned with a piece of butter. On this day, it is imperative to light Zula(lamp), the light of which will illuminate your further path in this and the next lives.

Festive decoration of the yurt.

In "butuu uder" categorically it is forbidden to raise dust in the house- It is necessary to clean the house in advance. Buddhists are encouraged to read holy books, recite mantras, prostrate, and do good deeds.

It is highly undesirable to drink alcohol, you should also refrain from eating meat.

It is necessary to meet Sagaalgan, having properly prepared for it - with pure thoughts, in a pure place.

Do not oversleep the dawn!

On the first day of Sagaalgan gotta get up very early at 4-5 o'clock in the morning. According to legend, in the early morning, before sunrise, a deity enters every house. Baldan-Lhamo, which counts all people. Those who overslept her arrival are considered to miss their happiness for a whole year. And those who were awake at that time, on the contrary, will acquire the protection of the Buddhist goddess Lhamo, and they will be accompanied by good luck and success throughout the year.

After morning washing, it is necessary to light Zula, burn sanzai or worse(incense), present tahil(offering) Three jewels(Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), and on the street to bring sergem(offering in the form of tea, milk, or vodka) to the deities and masters of the area, splashing on all sides with the words "Om Ah Hum".

After that, the Buddhists go to the datsan, where they celebrate the White Moon holiday together with the clergy.

Visit relatives and hang out Hii Morin

It is customary to start the first day of Sagaalgan with a tour of the district congratulations to parents, present them hadak, gifts. When meeting with elders, it is necessary to be neatly dressed, fastened with all buttons.

present hadak you need to palms up, after supporting the hands of the older person from below. In this case, the palms turned upwards symbolize the purity of thoughts, and the support by the elbows - respect for old age and wisdom.

If relatives meet, then one hand remains at the top, and with the other hand they support the elbow from below. After the greeting, they step aside, while trying not to show their back. Men on the right side of the house, women on the left, in age order. After that, they sit down at the table.

On a holiday, they visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances, thereby strengthening relationships and teaching the younger ones to observe traditions and customs from an early age. When visiting, you must definitely go to the altar and pray, after which you can, at the invitation of the hosts, go to the festive table.

In the days of Sagaalgan, usually on the second day according to the lunar calendar, takes place rite of "launching the horse of the winds"- using the image of the "horse of the winds" ( Hii morin), consecrated by a lama.

"Khiy morin" is tied to a tree or placed on the roof of the house so that it flutters in the wind.

It is believed that the "horse of the winds" serves as a powerful protection against misfortune and disease, attracting the attention of higher beings and calling for the help of deities. His image also symbolizes the wish of health, happiness and prosperity in the new year to all living beings.

Holiday in the 13th century [ | ]

Popular mythology[ | ]

Buddhist popular mythology connects the Tsagaan Sar holiday - the beginning of spring - with the name of the Buddhist deity-dharmapala, the goddess Baldan Lhamo. According to legend, every year after another victory over the mongooses and saving the sun, swallowed by the lord of hell, Yama (mong. Erleg nomyn khaan), she descends to the earth, warms it with her warmth, and spring begins. The cold is receding, winter starvation is leaving, a new season begins in the economic activity of cattle breeders. They count the losses incurred in winter and rejoice at the approach of the warm season.

The image of an angry Buddhist goddess sometimes coexists with the image of the White Elder (Mong. Tsagaan өvgon), the traditional Buddhist embodiment of fertility and longevity.

Holiday in the New Age[ | ]

Today is the first day of Sagaalgan in the Republic of Buryatia and the Trans-Baikal Territory, as well as in the territories of the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug and the Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrug, is a day off.

According to the Law of the Republic of Kalmykia dated October 13, 2004 N 156-III-Z "On holidays and memorable days in the Republic of Kalmykia", the Tsagan Sar holiday is a national holiday of Kalmykia.

According to the Law of the Republic of Tyva dated February 3, 1999 No. 143 "On the holidays of the Republic of Tyva", the Shagaa holiday (New Year according to the lunar calendar) was given the status of a "folk holiday", its date is annually set by a resolution of the Supreme Khural (parliament) of the Republic of Tuva in accordance with eastern lunar calendar.

The State Assembly of the Republic of Altai on February 1, 2013 amended the law "On holidays and memorable days, anniversaries in the Altai Republic". In accordance with the amendments, the holiday of the New Year and the change of the symbol of the year according to the lunar calendar, Chaga Bayram, is declared non-working.

In 2011, the holiday was nominated for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Traditions and rituals of celebration[ | ]

Meat and sweets - modern treats for the Sagaalgan holiday

They prepared for the celebrations in advance, slaughtered cattle for the future, since it was forbidden to do it directly on the days of the holiday. The celebration took place in every house. They hung new outfits on a rope, shook out all the clothes. They cooked meat - mutton, beef or horsemeat, prepared buuzas.

Ritual mutual greeting[ | ]

The traditional greeting was an important ritual with which two people who met that day addressed each other. The significance of this greeting is so great and the duration of its action is so long that, for example, Tuvans could not greet each other for a whole year, arguing that they had already greeted each other during the White month.

Visiting[ | ]

Visiting is an indispensable part of the Sagaalgan holiday. Even those living far away these days came to meet with relatives. There were certain norms: the sequence of visits, the nature of gifts depended on the position of the person. Visited their parents, maternal relatives - they always enjoyed special reverence; daughters-in-law came to the house of the husband's parents with their children to worship their ancestors and patrons. An indispensable element of festive gifts was a bunch of wrestlers.

Present [ | ]

The traditional ritual gift is the national flour dish “wrestler”. Bortsoks were made from rich unleavened dough and fried in boiling fat. Of these, sets were made - for offering the "first portion" to the Buddhas, as well as gift ones - for presentation to relatives during holiday visits. The shape of the wrestlers included in the sets had a symbolic meaning: figurines in the form of animals expressed the wish for the offspring of the corresponding livestock; in the form of an occasion - good luck. Thus, the wrestlers “huts”, molded in the form of a ram figurine, meant the wish for a large offspring of this type of livestock and reflected to some extent the ancient rite of animal sacrifice, that is, they replaced the real sacrifice with its image. A similar role was played by wrestlers “kit”, the shape of which resembled part of horse entrails, and wrestlers “өvte tokhsh”, symbolizing cattle. Bortsok "moshkmr" - twisted, reminiscent of a national dish of boiled mutton entrails, small "khorkha" (literal translation: insects). Wrestlers "jola", depicting a reason, were supposed to call for endless good luck. And by offering the wrestler "shoshhr", they expressed the desire to live as a single family, and also to have protection from enemies.

offerings [ | ]

Early in the morning on the day of the holiday, a ceremony of sprinkling (kalm. zulg orgh) was performed: having crossed the threshold of the house, the owner sprinkled around the first cup of freshly brewed tea as an offering to the ancestors and the White Elder. Wrestlers in the form of the sun and lotus were used as a symbolic offering to the Burkhans. Among the Don Kalmyks, the type of wrestlers "Burkhan Zala", or "Tsatsg", in the form of a brush, symbolizing the lotus, was especially loved. He was placed at the top of the "Deeji boortsg". Bortsoks in the form of the sun are large cakes, called "havtha" in some ethnic groups, "tselvg" in others. “Khavtha” is a whole flat cake with tucks along the edges or with four holes in the center, the edges of the “tsevg” wrestlers are even, and small holes are located radially around their circumference. "Khavtha" or "tselvg" was prepared first of all and invariably set as a deeji. Placed in this set and all the other wrestlers listed above.

Days of the new moon - the eve of Sagaalgan - from to[ | ]

Friday, 07 February

13th lunar day with the element Fire. auspicious day for people born in the year of the Horse, Sheep, Monkey and Chicken. Today it is good to lay the foundation, build a house, dig the ground, start treatment, buy medicinal preparations, herbs, conduct matchmaking. Going on the road - to increase well-being. bad day for people born in the year of the Tiger and the Rabbit. It is not recommended to make new acquaintances, make friends, start teaching, get a job, hire a nurse, workers, buy livestock. Haircut- fortunately and success.

Saturday, 08 February

14th lunar day with the element Earth. auspicious day for people born in the year of the Cow, Tiger and Rabbit. Today is a good day to ask for advice, avoid dangerous situations, perform rituals to improve life and wealth, be promoted to a new position, buy livestock. bad day for people born in the Year of the Mouse and the Pig. It is not recommended to write essays, publish works on scientific activities, listen to teachings, lectures, start a business, get a job or help get a job, hire workers. Going on the road is a big trouble, as well as parting with loved ones. Haircut- to increase wealth and livestock.

Sunday, February 09

15th lunar day with the element Iron. Benevolent deeds and sinful deeds committed on this day will be multiplied a hundred times. Auspicious day for people born in the year of the Dragon. Today you can build a dugan, suburgan, lay the foundation of a house, build a house, start a business, study and comprehend science, open a bank deposit, sew and cut clothes, as well as for tough solutions to some issues. Not recommended move, change place of residence and work, bring a daughter-in-law, give a daughter as a bride, as well as hold funerals and commemorations. Going on the road is bad news. Haircut- to good luck, to favorable consequences.

According to Buddhist tradition, before the New Year's Eve (Sagaalgan in Buryat), it is customary to spend the old year with dignity: do a big house cleaning, and also take part in cleansing ceremonies.

On Thursday, February 23, at 18:00, the lamas will perform a ceremony of blessing the offerings specially made for Sagaalgan.

February 24, Friday, from 10:00 during the day there will be a prayer service of the Ten Defenders of the Teaching - Arban Khangal (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 25, Saturday, at 10:00 a.m. Sahyusan Khural will be held. From 15:00, a Taban Haryuulga prayer service will be held, contributing to the elimination of obstacles, false views, various troubles, sorrows, diseases of the body and mind, and overcoming the harmful influence of external factors. During the khural, the lamas read ritual texts aimed at averting harm, which include prayers addressed to White Tara, White Umbrella Tara, 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 5 p.m., the lamas will begin to read a special Dugzhuub prayer service, after which they will make a ritual fire. 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 over the past year is “invested” in it, and then solemnly burned on a separate fire as a symbol of spiritual purification.
February 26, Sunday - fasting day (butuu uder, or "closed day"): from 10:00 - Sahyusan Khural, from 15:00 - Mandal Shiva prayer (praise of Green Tara).

From 22:00 to 5:00 on February 27 - a solemn prayer service Baldan Lhamo, dedicated to the meeting of the New Buddhist Year of the Red Fire Rooster.

On Monday, February 27, at 5 o'clock in the morning, the solemn prayer service of Sidor Lhamo will begin, the onset of Sagaalgan will be celebrated, the exchange of hadaks (special multi-colored scarves) will take place, a ceremony 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 of Monlam Chenmo (Great prayer service - Tib.) to the New Year. This holiday lasts for 15 days and is dedicated to the memory of 15 miracles that, according to legend, Shakyamuni Buddha performed in the Indian city of Shravasti. This year, Monlam Chenmo will be held from February 27 to March 14.

At the same time, it is customary on the second day of Sagaalgan, on February 28, on Tuesday, to hang chiy morins - to perform the rite of launching the “horses of the wind of luck”. The lamas will perform a special ritual of consecration of hiy morin - Hiy Morin San. "Fortune Wind Horse" is a symbol showing the state of a person's well-being.

On the 15th day of Monlam Chenmo, March 14, Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m., the lamas will hold a festive prayer service for Chonprul Duisen. March 15, Wednesday, Dodudba will be read - a text from the Prajnaparamita Sutra. March 16, Thursday, from 10:00 am, a special Sahyusan Khural will be held, dedicated to the end of the Monlam Chenmo holiday.

Sagaalgan is celebrated for a whole month, this is the most favorable time for purification rites, to visit 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 of your home.

You thought that the New Year holidays were already over, you can calmly exhale and start your measured life again. But no. Another New Year's Eve is ahead of us. This time according to the lunar calendar, which are also celebrated on a grand scale. It is generally accepted that the “lunar” New Year is an exclusively Chinese holiday. In fact, in addition to the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, according to the lunar calendar, events are celebrated in Mongolia, Vietnam, Malaysia and here in Russia. True, in our country it is celebrated by residents of several regions and the holiday is not nationwide. Read in the Calendar about where you can celebrate the Lunar New Year and participate in unique national rituals.

When: 02/26/2017

This year, on February 26, the residents of Buryatia will celebrate the most solemn and bright holiday, symbolizing the renewal of nature and man, openness and purity of thoughts, hope and good expectations - Sagaalgan. According to local traditions, Sagaalgan marks the arrival of spring, from which the New Year begins, but not familiar to our understanding. For the Buryats, the New Year means the time when one more year is added to the age of each. This holiday is celebrated with a plentiful table, on which only white food is set: milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, kurunga, koumiss and salamat. In addition to the gala dinner, local folk fun and games are traditionally arranged. Guests of the holiday have the opportunity to learn art processing of felt, silver, wood carving, hand weaving from horsehair, watch performances of local groups and participate in the huge round dance "Yokhor-Nadaan" at special master classes.

Where: Rep. Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, Soviet Square
When: 02/26/2017

The fabulous Sagaalgan in Buryatia is a special international tourist project created to show the guests of the region the main features of the Buryat culture, to acquaint them with unique local traditions. The main character is the White Elder Sagaan Ubgen - the keeper of life and longevity, one of the symbols of fertility and prosperity in the Buddhist pantheon. It is he who conducts a kind of excursion for tourists to the wonderful world of Buryatia: they visit Buryat, Old Believer and Cossack ethnic villages, the coast of Lake Baikal, get acquainted with the religious objects of Buddhism and Orthodoxy. After the tour, all participants continue to celebrate the New Year together with the locals.

Where: Rep. Tyva, Kyzyl, Arata Square
When: 02/26/2017 - 02/27/2017

You can meet an unusual New Year when you come to Tuva. Tuvans celebrate the new year, observing a 12-year cycle, where each year corresponds to a certain type of animal. The date of the New Year or Shagaa - as the Tuvans call it, is calculated by churagachy (astrologer). Shagaa is celebrated in its own way: on New Year's Eve itself, a festive prayer service is held, which is held in churches. On the morning of the first day, Tuvans dress in bright festive clothes, collect treats traditional for this day on special trays and go to an elevated place to take part in the san-salyr ritual - lighting a sacred fire. According to legend, everyone who took part in the ceremony will be helped by spirits and deities in the new year, which means there will be good luck. Shagaa is celebrated for three days. First of all, the Tuvan New Year is a time of unity of close people, an important reminder of the value of time and life.