A Journey in Southern Siberia: The Mongols, Their Religion and Their Myths

The religious life of the Mongols is inextricably linked to the rhythms of the steppe. As we observed during our stay near the Selenga River, the shamanA spiritual leader and healer who acts as an intermediary between the human world and the spirit world. remains a central figure, acting as a bridge between the mundane world and the spirits of the ancestors.

"The spirits of the mountains," our guide explained, "are not to be trifled with. They demand respect, for they hold the keys to the prosperity of our herds and the health of our children."

These rituals, often performed under the vast, open sky, involve the burning of juniper and the offering of fermented mare's milk. It is a solemn affair, marked by rhythmic chanting that seems to echo the very wind that sweeps across the plains. Unlike the more structured rites of the lamasTibetan Buddhist monks., these shamanic practices feel ancient, rooted in a time before the arrival of Buddhism in these northern reaches.