Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FUNERARY RITES
Up until the early 20th century, Mongolians typically disposed of their dead by
leaving them out in the elements, where dogs, birds and wild animals would devour
the body. The practice followed the tradition of sky burial, common in Tibet. This
act was seen to be the best way to return a body to the natural world, while the
soul could safely be reincarnated into another body (either human or animal).
When the Russians forbade the practice, Mongolians began following the Russian
tradition of burying their dead. In the post-communist era, some families are re-
verting to the old method of sky burial, although this is still quite rare. The more
popular option now is cremation and several crematoriums have been built around
Ulaanbaatar in recent years.
The Forces of Nature
Nomadic peoples are, for all intents and purposes, on a lifelong camping trip. As such,
they are greatly affected by the climate and other natural forces around them. Reverence
towards the land, a product of their shamanic beliefs, has attuned them to nature; the
thought of degrading the land or altering nature strikes many Mongols as profane. Nature
is not something that must be tamed or dominated, but something that thrives on balance
and harmony.
Mongolia's reverence towards nature can still be seen in modern daily ritual. For ex-
ample, the act of flicking milk into the sky is seen as an offering to the sky spirits. Toss-
ing a rock on an
ovoo
(a shamanistic collection of stones) and walking around it three
times is a way to bless earthly spirits. In the modern world some compromises do need to
be made - for example, pits need to be dug for buildings and mines. In such cases lamas
are often summoned to not only bless the project but also to pray for the damaged earth.
One Mongolian tradition you might see is the annual horse-branding ceremony in
September or early October, which involves rounding up the foals for branding. Follow-
ing the special ceremony, the family and their invited guests will sit down to a night of
singing, feasting and drinking.
Reverence of nature is seen in all aspects of Mongolian culture, especially song, dance
and art. Ride in a van full of Mongolians and you'll soon hear them break into song,
crooning about the clear rivers and high mountains. These influences seem to have also
affected the very nature of the Mongolian character. A Mongolian is typically humble,
stoic and reserved; it is unusual to see a Mongolian express emotions vocally or in pub-
