Briefing with the Participation of the Chief Administrator of the Central Khurul, Yonten Gelong

Ahead of the festival of Tsagan Sar, on February 22 at the Central Khurul of Kalmykia “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni,” a great Kangso ritual — an address to the Protectors (Säküsnä nom) — will take place. It will consist of two sessions, both held on February 22. The first will take place from 9:00 to 11:30, and the second session from 13:00 to 15:00. On February 23, the ritual “Bilgin zürknä üüdnäs shulms härülkh yosn” (Sherning Dudok) — the averting of obstacles through the “Heart of the Prajnaparamita Sutra” — will take place. On February 24, at 9:00 in the morning, the solemn ritual of offering torma to the goddess Okn Tengri will take place. Yonten Gelong recounted that on the day of the Tsagan Sar celebration, a special ritual is performed at the Central Khurul that occurs once a year — the ritual “Tsogt Okn Tengrin shinin balng örgkh yosn.” It is believed that on Tsagan Sar the protectress Okn Tengr descends to earth and makes a circuit, and it is on this very day that, through the ritual and offerings, the monks thank Okn Tengr for her patronage of the Kalmyk people and the Teaching of the Buddha, and also ask for continued patronage. On this same day, on the third floor of the Central Khurul, the exhibition of Buddhist thangkas dedicated to the 15 Great Miracles of the Buddha will open. From 13:00 to 14:00, a screening of the film “Saffron Heart” by the Russian film director Pavel Maklay will be held in the conference hall. As the administrator of the Kalmyk khurul recounted, at the center of the film's narrative is the story of a little Tibetan boy who was sent by his parents to a Buddhist monastery. The main character misses home and makes attempts to escape. Out of compassion for the child, his Teacher devises a game for the boy: a quest map made up of eight riddles, and by finding the answers to them the boy will have the chance to return home. A recording of the briefing that took place with the participation of the administrator of the Central Khurul, Yonten Gelong, can be viewed here