Description
Big Asian Family:
Khabarovsk (Nanai) – Yakutsk (Sakha) – Ulan-Ude (Burytians)
DAY 1 Khabarovsk (Nanai indigenous people)
Nanai is the largest group of aborigines today (just over 12,000 people) living on the left and right banks of the Amur. The first mention of the Nanai in various sources dates to the end of the second millennium BC. Self-designation - Nanai, Nani (from na - “earth”, nai - “man”) - “people of this land”. There were other self-names: people living along the Chur and Urmi Rivers - callef themselves Bira Guruni, Bira Bayeni - "river people", on the Amur - Haden - "Downstream living", on the shores of Lake Bologna - the Balkan - "the inhabitants of Lake Bologna ", a group of Nanai people on the River Bikin - monai, munei - "forest people". In Russian sources from the XVII century, they are known as achan, akani, ngatku, goldi, gogdi; in Chinese and Manchu - as yupitatszy - "people in fish skin" or shituanbu - "dog using people."
The traditional economy has always been fishing, which can be done year-round. Nanai knew, caught and processed more than 120 species of fish. They live mainly settled in small villages. The Nanai people have a rich culture, which has survived to this day.
The village of Sikachi-Alyan is not far from Khabarovsk (70 km from the city). There you can plunge into the life of Nanai ancestors, get acquainted with the traditions, way of life, beliefs, myths and legends of the Nanai people. You can also get acquainted with the traditional art of the Nanai. Sikachi-Alyan is one of the “must-see” places near Khabarovsk, because it is here the petroglyph drawings of ancient people on ancient volcanic rock are found. They are more than 12,000 years old and have long been a world heritage site. You can go to the upper or lower petroglyphs by boat, on foot or by snowmobile, depending on the time of year.
The program of excursions to the Nanai village of Sikachi-Alyan also includes:
- A performance of the indigenous inhabitants of Amur in national clothes with national instruments. All clothes are sewn according to ancient traditions and decorated with ornaments typical to the inhabitants of the Amur River.
A Nanai hostess will tell you how the Nanai and Ulchi lived in these places 100 or more years ago.
- The Community and family museums help you to go back in time, listen to interesting personal stories and experience the atmosphere of ancient aborigine’s settlement .
- Trying on the national male and female Nanai clothes sewn from fish skin with hand-embroidered patterns.
- Tasting of national dishes: You can taste fresh tala, fish soup and dumplings from Far Eastern fish, teas from local herbs and other dishes of national cuisine.
- And finally, the national games and fun of the Nanai people: tugging sticks, rope jumping, group game "Chakpan", archery, javelin throwing.
Day 2 Yakutsk (Sakha people)
The Yakuts originate from nomadic tribes, therefore they live in yurts. However, unlike the Mongol felt yurts, the round dwelling of the Yakuts is constructed from the trunks of small trees with a cone-shaped roof. A lot of windows are arranged in the walls, under the windows there are wooden benks at different heights. Between them, partitions are installed, forming something similar to rooms in a house; the oiled hearth is installed in the center of the yurt. In summer, temporary birch bark yurts - urases - can be erected. Since the 20th century, some Yakuts have settled in huts.
Life of the Yakuts is associated with shamanism. Construction of a house, birth of children, marriage and burial, and many other aspects of life cannot be imagined without the participation of a shaman and their séances. At the same time, a significant part of the half-million population of Yakuts profess Christian Orthodoxy and many more adhere to agnostic beliefs.
A significant cultural phenomenon of these people is the poetic tales of OLONHO, which can number up to 36 thousand rhymed lines. The epic is passed down from generation to generation by master performers, and more recently, these narratives had been included on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list.
Throat singing and playing music on the national instrument khomus, one of the variants of the plunging harp, are prominent characteristics of the Yakut culture. Yakut knives with an asymmetric blade are worthy of mentioning. Such knife is an important artifact in almost every family.
The customs and rituals of the Yakuts are closely connected with traditional beliefs. They are followed even by many Orthodox Christians or agnostics who live in Yakutia. The structure of the beliefs is very similar to Shintoism - each manifestation of nature has its own spirit, and shamans communicate with them.
An important place in the life of each Yakut is occupied by the New Year celebration - Ysyakh. Different rites are called upon to appease the gods. Hunters praise Baye-Bayanaya, women - Ayyysyt. The holiday reaches its summit by the universal dance of the sun - Osoukhai. All participants join hands and arrange a huge round dance.
Fire has sacred properties at any time of the year. Therefore, every meal in the Yakut house begins with a treat to the fire - throwing food into the hearth and giving it some milk. Feeding fire is one of the key moments of any holiday or activity.
Visit to the ethnographic complex “The Atlasov Estate”: Yakut national culture, traditions, rites, a dwelling and household utensils, Yakut national costume, Yakut folklore concert including khomus playing and throat singing.
Dinner of the Yakut national cuisine in the ethnographic complex.
Day 3 Ulan-Ude (Buryatian culture)
Today we explore the capital of Buryatia republic – Ulan-Ude city, which is also is the capital of Buddhism in Russia. Main Buddhism temple – Ivolginskiy Datsan is located not far from Ulan-Ude (30 km) and we are going there right after arrival. Datsan is also the residence of Pandido Khamba lama. We get acquainted with the history of Buddhism in Russia, traditions, rites, beliefs, folklore and inside the temple lifestyle. A part of the Ivolginskiy Datsan is the Buddhist University with 4 faculties (philosophic, medical, tantric, iconographic) which train 100 students nowadays.
After Buryatian dishes lunch – buuzy and khushury – we going back to Ulan-Ude visiting on the way ethnographic museum of overbaikal nations. The open-museum 23 ha exposition presents the culture of 4 groups inhabiting this land: butryatians, evenkis, old believers, Russian old-timers.
Shamanism is the main butrytian cult, part and parcel of buryatian culture from time immemorial and living in harmony in present-day lifestyle of the modern buryatians. Shaman is a person who can directly communicate with spirits and natural forces. “Shaman” means “knowing, competent, wise”. Today you get a chance to be a part of shaman ritual.
This tour is a modal plan that can be changed or prolonged in the cities of visit depending on your requirements and flight schedules.
