Eli in Buddhist Russia: Kalmykia (video)

The lotus blooms in the East? Eastern Europe

Buddhism was officially incorporated into Siberia in the early 17th century [1, 2] and is considered one of Russia's traditional religions and a legal part of Russian historical heritage [3]. Besides the monastic Buddhist traditions of Buryatia, Tuva, and Kalmykia (the only Buddhist-majority republic in Europe), Buddhism is spreading all over Russia, with many ethnic Russian converts [4, 5].*

Buddhist Europe? New Years in Kalmykia

Republic of Kalmykia: In Elista took place a much big Russian Buddhist celebration

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(Eli from Russia) Jan. 7, 2024: ELISTA, Kalmykia - There is a Buddhist republic in the heart of Europe. On arriving, one can't believe what one is seeing: Buddhist stupas, temples, pagodas, Asian Buddhist gates and buildings. This Russian region has a truly distinct culture, traditions, and holidays. I will celebrate the Kalmyk Zul (Festival of Lamps) holiday with locals and add one year to my life along with all Kalmyks. Buddhism in Kalmykia

TIMECODES

• 00:00 I'm going to celebrate the New Year with Kalmyks!
• 01:17 Welcome to the capital: Elista City
• 02:46 What did I find on the Lenin Square?
• 04:26 My chance to make a wish under the Golden Gate
• 05:47 Here is a Kalmyk lunch!
• 09:30 Is this really Europe?!
• 11:25 Locals came to get blessings from Buddhist lamas
• 12:31 It's New Year's Day in Kalmykia
• 16:47 A ritual to prolong life

• Buddhist Modernities: Re-inventing Tradition in the Globalizing Modern World
• Republic of Kalmykia » New Year Zul
• 📌 elinabakunova.com/russianclub: Russian Speaking Club to practice at any level

*Buddhism in Russia

In 2012, Russian Vajrayana Buddhism was the religion of:

• 62% of the total population of Tuva,
• 48% of Kalmykia (the only indigenously Buddhist part of Europe), and
• 20% of Buryatia [24].

Buddhists, Shamans, and Soviets: Rituals...Buryatia

Buddhism also has adherents amounting to 6% in Zabaykalsky Krai, primarily ethnic Buryats, and 0.5% to 0.9% in Tomsk Oblast and Yakutia.

Buddhist communities are found in other federal subjects of Russia, between 0.1% and 0.5% in Sakhalin Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Amur Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Altay, Khakassia, Novosibirsk Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Tyumen Oblast, Orenburg Oblast, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Murmansk Oblast, Moscow and Moscow Oblast, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, and in Kaliningrad Oblast [24].

In large cities like Moscow, Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad, capital of the Czar's Empire which became the Soviet Union), and Samara, where up to 1% of the population identify as Buddhists [26].

• Buddhism in Tuva
• Buddhism in Kalmykia
• Buddhism in Buryatia
• Datsan and Khurul - Buddhist temples in Russia
• Khambo Lama
• Datsan Gunzechoinei
• Tubden Shedubling - Buddhist temple complex in Moscow
• More: Buddhism in Russia

• Eli from Russia, YouTube; Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly