19 June 2015. Our Great Russian Motherland… Lake Teletskoe in the High Altai

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Lake Teletskoe in the Altai Mountains is in Siberia near to China. It’s the largest lake in the mountains and in the Altai Republic. It’s a centrepiece of the Altaisky Nature Reserve, which is part of the Golden Mountains of Altai UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Republic. There are hotels, hostels, and campgrounds, with facilities for hiking, water sports, biking, helicopter tours, and fishing. In Soviet times, it was very popular. there are waterfalls and caves accessible to the public. In short, its one of the most visitor-friendly natural sites in Siberia.

BMD

13 October 2013. Our Great Russian Motherland… Buddhist New Year in Chita

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Did you know that Buddhism is one of the Big Four traditional religions in Russia (the others are Orthodox Christianity, Islam, and Judaism)? It’s strongest in Kalmykiya, Tyva, and Buryatiya, but there are also large communities in the Altai Republic, Trans-Baikal Krai, and Irkutsk Oblast. The above image is of Buddhist Lunar New Year in Chita, in Siberia. Estimates vary as to numbers, ranging from 700,000 to 2 million (the total, including the non-observant, is probably closer to the higher figure). It’s all Russian! It’s all ours, or none of it’s ours. Think on it.

BMD

14 July 2011. RIA-Novosti Presents… Russia’s Kaleidoscopic Breadth… Khakasiya Celebrates Tun Pairam

Recently, people in Khakasiya celebrated Tun Pairam, an ancient holiday marking the first big milk yield of the year, when the herders move their cattle from their winter pastures to greener summer pastures. The first “big milk” appears when the animals get their first fresh forage after a winter’s worth of hay.

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Viktor Zimin (1962- ), Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Khakasiya and RF Gosduma Deputy (United Russia), in traditional folk dress at the Tun Pairam festival.

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The holiday is a time for colourful performances, and it opened with public festivities.

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Youth groups performing during Tun Pairam.

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The first Women’s Crafts Fair Мастерица Сибири (Masteritsa Sibiri: Female Craftsmen of Siberia) at Tun Pairam featured female craftsmen from the Krasnoyarsk Krai, Tyva Republic, Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Gornaya Shoriya (southern part of Kemerovo Oblast, inhabited by the indigenous Shor people, they’re “hillbillies” (in the best sense of the word)), and Khakasiya (all part of the Siberian Federal District). The Altai, Khakas, and Shor peoples are mainly Orthodox; the Tyvans are mainly Buddhist.

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Wooden craftwork on display at the fair.

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Native artisans displayed all sorts of crafts, including homemade dolls, shaman drums, and many other gifts.

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Another first-time event was an exhibition, Podium Ethno, showcasing the work of indigenous fashion designers, who based their submissions upon the traditional dress of the Khakas and Altai peoples, held as part of the Tun Pairam celebration.

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Of course, no Tun Pairam is complete without airan, a fermented horse’s milk beverage.

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6 July 2011

RIA-Novosti

http://ria.ru/photolents/20110705/397757198.html