The Birds of the Kalmyk Culture

        In the Republic of Kalmykia there are many different species of birds.  According to Avibase, a Canadian partner of Bird Life International, Kalmykia has 251 species of birds.  Of these species, there are three that are endemic to the republic's environment such as the Red-breasted Goose, the White-winged Lark, and the Black Lark (Avibase 1).   

Reference: http://www.ejphoto.com/redbreasted_goose_page.htm

Although these species are endemic to the Kalmyk region, there are significant folk-tales regarding the eagle and the raven.  In Pushkin's Historical Imagination by Svetlana Evdokimova, Pugachev's character recounts a small legend concerning the two birds:

          "The raven who eats carrion does not take any risks and lives three hundred years. The  eagle, by contrast, prefers 'to drink live blood if only once' rather than feed on carrion for centuries, and 'then what will come will come' (VIII: I, 352)" (Evdokimova 81). 

        In a Kalmyk Buddhist legend called "Is There More Evil Than Good in the World?" the eagle and the raven are also mentioned.  The legend describes how both of these two birds lie to a young man named Manvarhkan, to which the wise elder, Tsetsen responds, "They have told you lies to make you feel better. They wished you good. Do you still think that there is more evil than good in the world? " (Klitsenko 1).  It's clear from this statement that both the eagle and the raven hold a supernatural significance within the Kalmyk culture, helping the people of this culture to explain some of life's greatest questions.

 

Reference: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bald_eagle/id

        
Works Cited:
"Kalmykia, Republic of Bird Checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World." Kalmykia, Republic of Bird Checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014. <http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=RUsokl>.

 

"Pushkin's Historical Imagination." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014.

 

"Religious Fables, Folklore, Legends, and Stories." Is There More Evil Than Good in the World?: : All Creatures Articles Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014.

 

The Kalmyk Cosmos

        The central religion of the Kalmyk people is Buddhism.  In fact, the Republic of Kalmykia is the only nation in Europe with a Buddhist majority (Minahan 358).  More specifically though, the Kalmyk people follow a Tibetan  branch of Buddhism called Lamaism.  Through Lamaism, the Kalmyks believe in many deities, but the most popular one is Tsahan Avga (Kalmyks 1).  However, another fraction of Kalmyks are shamanists (Prayer 1).  Shamanistic Kalmyks believe in an invisible gods, spirits, and demons, and they designate a shaman believed to be the only one who can contact spirits and cure the sick (Prayer 1).  The Kalmyks had shamanistic temples called obos where they believed Tsahan Avga dwelled.  At these obos, which were constructed from stones to honor local spirits, Kalmyks would perform rituals.  They would also hold horse races, wrestling matches, and arrow shooting contests at these sites (Kalmyk 1).

Reference: http://russianow.washingtonpost.com/2011/11/buddhist-revival-in-kalmykia.php

        In 2011, an important Buddhist ceremony took place in Kalmykia, an offering of light to Buddha.  According to an article in Russia Now by Anna Nemtsova, about 2,000 Buddhist gathered in Elista at the Golden Adobe temple for the ceremony.  This is the first time this ceremony has ever been held in Kalmykia.  It was performed in celebration of an internation forum that had been held in the republic a month before.  Here is an excerpt from the article that truly describes the Kalmyk cosmos and how it has affected them: "Buddhism teaches tolerance and loving-kindness, so Kalmyks have learned to cope with their harsh realities. "We have seen it much worse," Yevdokiya Kutsayeva, 84, said. She had tears in her eyes as she recalled Stalin's deportations. "One October night in 1943, they packed the entire population of the republic into dirty train wagons and sent us to Siberia. Thousands died on the way. I remember the stacks of dead bodies along the platforms," she recalled" (Nemtsova).  Clearly, religion is an important part of Kalmykia's past, present, and future.

Works Cited:
"Buddhist Revival in Kalmykia." Russia Now. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.

"Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongul in Russia." People Group. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014. <http://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/14129/RS>.

Minahan, James. One Europe, Many Nations: A Historical Dictionary of European National Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2000. Print.

"The Unreached Peoples Prayer Profiles." The Unreached Peoples Prayer Profiles. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2014. <http://kcm.co.kr/bethany_eng/p_code/1632.html>.

The Kalmyk World

        In the world of the Kalmyk culture, the males are herdsmen and some work within a specific trade for which they are paid a meager amount of money. Others who live near the Volga River work as fishermen.  Many Kalmyks have gardens near their homes where they plant foods such as melons, corn, and potatoes.  Kalmyks usually get married in their mid-twenties.  Traditionally, Kalmyk families live in large family units, however, more Kalmyk families are breaking away from this tradition.  Many Kalmyks are nomadic, following seasonal migration patterns and they live in portable tents called yurts.  These are just a few of the many different aspects of the Kalmyk culture's world (Kalmyk-Oirat).

Reference: http://english.turkcebilgi.com/Kalmyk

        Kalmyks traditionally wear very loose fitting clothes, velvet hats, and "padded" long pants (Kalmyk-Oirat).  Kalmyk males shave most of their heads.  Kalmyks love to divulge in their oral history.  This oral history is conveyed through a poet and someone playing a musical instrument called a dombr.  Kalmyk consume mostly meat and milk products as a part of their diets.  Unfortunately, the republic experiences a shortage in their water supply and hygiene is poor.  Alcoholism is also a huge problem within the republic.  Kalmyks also have a high infant mortality rates, low life expectancies, and a tendency towards diseases such as tuberculosis (Kalmyk-Oirat).  

        The Kalmyk culture consists of three theaters, one of which is the State Touring and Concert Institution called "Kalmkoncert."  Kalmykia also consists of two museums, a School of Arts, children's music and art schools, and five professional dance teams.  These cultural institutions are often used by the republic to popularize traditional Kalmyk culture, using ancient stories and dances to bring the Kalmyk people together and appreciate their heritage.  Librarianship is a popular occupation within the Kalmyk culture, and in Kalmykia there are 175 libraries.  These aspects of the Kalmyk's world contribute to their cultural survival (Republic).

Reference: http://culture.ru/en/atlas/object/807

        Another important part of the Kalmyk culture's world is their major religion, Buddhism.  Although Buddhism is the main religion of the Kalmyk people, the republic is home to seventy-nine registered religious organizations, including those of Muslims, Catholics, and Protestants.  Certain elements of the Buddhist religion are taught in Kalmyk schools.  The Kalmyk people utilize mass media such as television and radio shows to broadcast religious programs that have become popular among members of the culture.  Even the construction of the Buddhist temple, Syakusn Sume, became a national event, emphasizing the important role of religion in the Kalmyk world (Republic).

Works Cited:

"Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongul in Russia." People Group. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014. <http://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/14129/RS>.

 "Republic of Kalmykia | Culture." Republic of Kalmykia | History. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. <http://www.kalm.ru/en/hist.html>.

The Kalmyk Homeland

        The homeland of the Kalmyk people is located in the Republic of Kalmykia.  The Republic of Kalmykia is positioned in the southeastern part of the Russian Federation (Republic).  It is also located south of the Volga River and west of the Caspian Sea (Minahan 357).  The republic stretches about 76.1 thousand square kilometers (Republic).  Kalmykia can be divided up into three zones: the Western, Central, and Eastern zones (Republic).  The region generally has a continental climate.  The area of the republic is made up of plains and steppe (area of flat grasslands or prairies) making most the Kalmyk homeland unsuitable for cultivation.  However, the best soil can be found in Kalmykia's Western zone.  There are also some areas in the south that are comprised of arid semi-deserts (Republic).

Reference: http://shelf3d.com/i/Kalmyk%20people

        Although the Kalmyk people consist of mostly a rural population, more and more are packing their bags and moving to more urban areas within the republic.  There are three major cities in the republic called Elista, Lagan, and Gorodovikovsk (Russia Trek 1).  Elista is the capital of Kalmykia, formerly named Stepnoi (Minahan 357).  It's located in the southern region of Kalmykia in a wide valley (Republic).  The capital serves as the center for Kalmykia's growth and development. 
        Elista, located in the southwest of Kalmykia, is the largest city in the republic and holds about 31.2% of its population (Republic).  "Elista carries capital city functions
and is a political and administrative, cultural and organizational center" (Republic).  The Golden Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Eastern Europe, is located in the capital (Regnum 1).  Among the Kalmyks, Elista is also considered to be the area's science center as it is home to Kalmyk State University (Republic).  It also houses approximately eighty other schools for primary and secondary education (Republic).

Reference: http://www.kalmykia.eu/tag/buddhist-monks/

        A significant amount of economic activity is also centered in Elista.  This is mainly due to the growing entrepreneurship and industry that is taking place.  According to the government of Kalmykia's website, there are twenty-three industrial enterprises located within the capital.  The enterprises operate to produce oil extraction, power production, machinery building, wood processing, construction materials, light, food, and printing (Republic).  There are 2,713 small businesses in the capital.  From 1996 to 2002, the number of small businesses in Elista grew 2.5% (Republic).   


Works Cited:
"Kalmykia Republic, Russia (Kalmikia)." Kalmykia Republic, Russia Features, History, Landscapes. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. <http://russiatrek.org/kalmykia-republic>.

Minahan, James. "Kalmyks." One Europe, Many Nations: A Historical Dictionary of European National Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2000. 357-62. Print.

Regnum. "Europe's Biggest Buddhist Temple Opens in Kalmykia." Europe. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. <http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php/index.php?id=3,2114,0,0,1,0>.

"Republic of Kalmykia | History." Republic of Kalmykia | History. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. <http://www.kalm.ru/en/hist.html>.