#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. In the ethnographic complex Taimyr Oikumena, another ancient Dolgans’ dwelling – baltysah is built. Once settled families lived in such small wooden houses: they did not roam with deer, but were engaged in fishing and hunting. On the day of housewarming, a rite of purification with amber smoke was performed in the dwelling. The house mistress presented a bowl of incense to every corner and said: “Let all troubles bypass this house and only good guests visit it”.
Then the Dolgans performed another traditional ritual – smearing the ‘chimka’ pole with reindeer fat. The transverse pole ‘chimka’ is revered as the house owners’ spirits guardian.
The Taimyr House of Folk Art head Lyubov Popova said that the idea to recreate the old baltysah in the Oikumene belongs to Vasily Batagay, the chief custodian of the THFA funds. He went on an expedition to the tundra, where he explored the remains of ancient Dolgan dwellings.
“Our craftsmen have built the baltysah for a month. Everyone can visit the architectural ethnic object”, the interlocutor shared.
According to tradition, the Dolgans play the bargan in the house, cook butugas soup, which is brewed on the basis of dairy products, and brew aromatic herbal tea.
Recall that in 2020, an ethnic children’s playground Dorgoon was opened in Dudinka and the new Taimyr Attraction area was equipped. Both projects are being implemented with a grant from the World of New Opportunities Nornickel charity program.
We also reported that digitalization and IT technologies were discussed at the Taimyr Youth Forum: now there is a mobile phone in every chum and camp.
Follow us on Telegram, Instagram , Facebook and Twitter.
Text: Ekaterina Elkanova, Photo: Taimyr House of Folk Art
