Loading...
Done
Mongolian Shamans or Buu, sit together as they take part in a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Banned for 70 years under Communist rule, shamanism has seen a resurgence in Mongolia since 1992, when the ancient practice became protected by the country's Constitution. Known as Tengrism, in which Shamans channel ancestral spirits, it is widely regarded as Mongolia's national religion and part of its indigenous identity. Shamans, it is believed, are chosen by their ancestral spirits to serve as a bridge to the living world; a conduit to provide healing, knowledge, and advice. Mongolia shamanism emerged from the grasslands thousands of years before Chinggis Khan founded the Mongol empire and has evolved with rituals in worship of nature and the eternal blue sky. Modern-day Shamans are more typically consulted for advice in business deals, illness, or personal difficulties. Shamans employ tools, including headdresses and mouth harps, to induce trances for the spirits to use their bodies and voices. While there are no official numbers, it is believed there are over 10,000 Shamans in Mongolia, and many have formed unions, organizations, and collectives. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, sit together as they take part in a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Banned for 70 years under Communist rule, shamanism has seen a resurgence in Mongolia since 1992, when the ancient practice became protected by the country's Constitution. Known as Tengrism, in which Shamans channel ancestral spirits, it is widely regarded as Mongolia's national religion and part of its indigenous identity. Shamans, it is believed, are chosen by their ancestral spirits to serve as a bridge to the living world; a conduit to provide healing, knowledge, and advice. Mongolia shamanism emerged from the grasslands thousands of years before Chinggis Khan founded the Mongol empire and has evolved with rituals in worship of nature and the eternal blue sky. Modern-day Shamans are more typically consulted for advice in business deals, illness, or personal difficulties. Shamans employ tools, including headdresses and mouth harps, to induce trances for the spirits to use their bodies and voices. While there are no official numbers, it is believed there are over 10,000 Shamans in Mongolia, and many have formed unions, organizations, and collectives. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian followers of Shamanism or Buu murgul, takes rice as a blessing during a ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian followers of Shamanism or Buu murgul, takes rice as a blessing during a ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian followers of Shamanism or Buu murgul, pray during a blessing as part of a Zugel ritual ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian followers of Shamanism or Buu murgul, pray during a blessing as part of a Zugel ritual ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian followers of Shamanism or Buu murgul, take milk to be thrown in the air as an offering at a ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian followers of Shamanism or Buu murgul, take milk to be thrown in the air as an offering at a ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, holds her child while throwing milk as an offering during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, holds her child while throwing milk as an offering during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, throw milk as an offering during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, throw milk as an offering during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, gather before a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice on June 23, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, gather before a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice on June 23, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, takes part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits at the Mother Tree on April 05, 2018 in Sukhbaatar, Selenge Province, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, takes part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits at the Mother Tree on April 05, 2018 in Sukhbaatar, Selenge Province, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian Shamaness or Buu, beats her drum while taking part with others in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian Shamaness or Buu, beats her drum while taking part with others in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, gestures during a fire ritual during a ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, gestures during a fire ritual during a ceremony in the grasslands on June 21, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, gather before a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice on June 23, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, gather before a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice on June 23, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian Shamans or Buu, sits with his child before a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice June 23, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian Shamans or Buu, sits with his child before a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice June 23, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, play the mouth harp or khel khurr, used to summon spirits, during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, play the mouth harp or khel khurr, used to summon spirits, during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, and their followers take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits at the Mother Tree on April 05, 2018 in Sukhbaatar, Selenge Province, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, and their followers take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits at the Mother Tree on April 05, 2018 in Sukhbaatar, Selenge Province, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, play the mouth harp or khel khurr, used to summon spirits, during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, play the mouth harp or khel khurr, used to summon spirits, during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian followers of Shamanism pray as they take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice early June 24, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian followers of Shamanism pray as they take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice early June 24, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, prays during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A Mongolian Shaman or Buu, prays during a sun ritual ceremony to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands at sunrise on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)



Mongolian Shamans or Buu, take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Mongolian Shamans or Buu, take part in a fire ritual meant to summon spirits to mark the period of the Summer Solstice in the grasslands on June 22, 2018 outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
30 Jun 2018 00:05:00