Summer in Siberia is a time of wonder. For three short, glorious months, the sun beats down upon the Siberian steppe, pumping it's solar power into all living things. All of Siberia is humming, a beehive of activity. People busily scurry about their business to finish before the August showers. Festivals of sport, culture and music spring into bloom and fade like so many short lived meadow flowers.
For more Siberian summer excitement: http://transformsiberia.com/2013/07/01/steppes-of-summer-yordinski-games/
The Yordinski games are one such festival. They take place on the Tajeranski steppe at the foot of Ekhe Yordo (Big hill) on the shores of the Sacred Sea, Lake Baikal. The Yordinski games are reminiscent of many nomadic steppe festivals such as Naadam (in Mongolia) and Surharban (Central Siberia). An International festival hosted semi-annually by the Western Buryats who live on the west side Lake Baikal, it differs from other festivals by stressing local Shamanic rituals and sending an open invitation to all other steppe peoples of Siberia, China, Mongolia and Central Asia to come and exhibit their particular culture and compete in events common to all steppe peoples.
The Ekhe Yordo, (big hill) is the focal point of this gathering, and the culmination of the Yordinski games is a giant Yohor (traditional round dance) around the hill. It requires hundreds of people to encircle Ekhe Yordo. The games are considered a success if the hill is completely encircled with a ring of people. If there are not enough people, that is a sign that the upcoming year will be hard. In 2013, the hill three rings of people danced around the hill!
For a brief couple of days a temporary village, evocative of nomadic settlements historically typical to this area appears. Banners and prayer flags flutter, tents and gers are raised, sheep are sheered or slaughtered, and the sun kisses the cheeks of these summer revellers. Buryats native to Central Siberia and people from many parts of Asia gather to celebrate in the sun. If you are counted among the lucky, and find yourself near Lake Baikal's echoing deep, you might just see something amazing!
