Konstantin Naktanov, About Milk or Tea Sprinkling in Kalmyk Culture

Abstract

Konstantin talks about a ritual of sprinkling tea or milk as an offering to gods and ancestors. He says that in the past people used special spoons to perform this ritual. In his family, Konstantin contends, they regularly perform it. This ritual is done on various occasions. When someone in Konstantin’s family is about to set out on a journey, his mother utters, ‘I offer this to the Master of Universe and all the gods in the sky’ and sprinkles milk or tea into the air to wish that person a safe journey. Konstantin’s grandmother also did so. People also perform this ritual during holidays such as Zul and Tsagan Sar. Some people sprinkle to the roof of their dwelling so that milk/tea does not touch the ground.