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Irina Lidzhieva, Milk Products in Rituals


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Authors

Churyumova, Elvira 
Boskhomdzhiev, Mergen 

Abstract

‘Tsagan idyan’ or milk products include the following: yoghurt, milk, dried yoghurt and others. Irina says milk products are used in many rituals. At weddings when the groom and his delegation come to the bride’s house, the first who enters the house is a boy with a bottle of milk or yoghurt in his hand. The head of the bottle has to be bound with a cloth. All in the house try the milk to symbolize a successful trip (the groom takes the bride with him from her house) for the newlywed. During the first bath of a baby, three drops of milk should be mixed with the water in the bath basin while the person who is preparing it should utter well wishes to the spiritual master of water so that the child grows healthy and happy. During funerals, the floor in the house of the deceased should be washed with water mixed with milk in order to cleanse the dwelling. Afterwards, rice is thrown both inside and outside the house. After the funeral, all participants wash their hands outside the house with water mixed with milk. Then a fire is set up and incenses, butter, flour and fat are thrown inside. People then cleanse themselves by holding hands over the fire.

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Keywords

milk products, rituals, weddings, funerals

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Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.