Baira Goryaeva, About Traditional Healing Methods
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Baira talks about two healing methods, namely khorglzh tsutgkh (pouring lead) and amnya dolig (substitution ritual): When I was little, I had a ritual of ‘pouring lead’ performed on me. When small children are frightened of something, they cry all the time. In such situations Kalmyks melt lead on a fire, then pour it into a cup with cold water, which is held over the child's head. In doing so the child’s head has to be covered with a white cloth. Once in water, the molten lead solidifies and takes the form of the object or creature that the child was frightened by. My husband’s aunt, Nurgaeva Evdokia Sankaevna, performed this ritual on my eldest daughter. The cause of her fright was immediately revealed, so I was really amazed. Usually lead is poured three times. The child needs to be seated facing the door so that his/her fear leaves through the door. A substitution ritual is done when a person is gravely ill or something happened to him/her during a trip. One of my nephews was wounded. I heard that he had this rite performed on him. He survived and is still alive.