In this video Antonina makes Kalmyk tea called jomba. It is a salty, green tea with milk, butter, and nutmeg. While it is boiling, Kalmyk tea has to be stirred periodically by lifting a large spoonful of tea and pouring it to the pan. This movement is believed to oxygenize the tea. Before drinking the hot tea, Antonina utters well-wishes, which is a Kalmyk tradition. At the table she recounts a legend about Kalmyk tea which is as follows. When one day the famous lama Tsongkapa fell ill, his parents called various healers and doctors, but nothing helped their son. When the parents were on the verge of losing all their hope, a healer gave them a recipe for a special drink. By drinking it Tsongkapa recovered. This drink was Kalmyk tea. According to yet another legend, the day when Tsongkapa recovered from his illness fell on the 25th day of the month of the cow. On this day, the Kalmyks celebrated Zul. Therefore, Zul became a holiday to prolong one’s life. On this day Tsongkapa is believed to descend on earth to bless the Kalmyks. To celebrate Zul the Kalmyks prepare candlewicks (stems) for each member of family. In Antonina’s family, there are six members. For Zul they prepare a candle in the shape of a small vessel from dough, stick six candlewicks inside it and light the candle in the morning. Since evil spirits dwell in darkness, on this day every family should light candles. It is also believed that these candles light up the way for lama Tsongkapa as well. During Zul the Kalmyks avoid making loud noise.