«My Native Place is Zabaikalye»

«My Native Place is Zabaikalye»

English teacher: Kosyakova Elena. Duldurga High School

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I like my native place. It’s my homeland. I live in Zabaikalye. I am going to talk about my homeland.

Zabaikalye Zabaikalye is in the southeast corner of Siberia. It is a mountainous land. The climate is continental with pronounced dryness. The winter is long and cold, there is little snowfall. In some part the temperature drops as low as —50. The summer is short and warm, sometimes hot with the temperature as high as +36 Zabaikalye is a sunshine land.
The flora of Zabaikalye is rich and diverse. It numbers over 1800 plant species; some of them are medical kind. There is a whole variety of coniferous trees: the larch, the pine, the Siberian pine (cedar), the vine-type cedar and the silver fir the deciduous trees growing here are the birch, the aspen, the poplar, Korean willow. The shrubs are represented by rhododendron Daurian (bagulnik), the dog rose, the alder, the willow and the bush- birch. The fauna is particular diverse in the mountain taiga which is a habitat for such animals as the deer, the musk-deer the Manchurian deer, the wild deer the wild boar, the grey bear, the fox, the wolf, the lynx, the wolverene (glutton) The Siberian pine (cedar) and the vine-type cedar areas offer avowable conditions for the sable, the squirrel and the chipmunk.
In the steppes the rare animals as the manul-cat, the dzeren antelope and the Siberian marmot are still preserved. Rare bird species include the bustard, the relic sea-gull, the steppe eagle, the golden eagle, the baloban- falcon, the crane and the Daurian crane. The history of Buryats The stormy history of the Buryat people and his culture are inseparably linked with the restless history of Central Asia on whose lands during two thousand years , quarreled , concluded alliances and disintegrated ruling clans , tribes and kaganats Herds and people continuously roamed from place to place in search of better fate , pastures and hunting , they were driven by a specter of hunger , threats of enemies and thirst for discoveries Tree , Fire , Earth , Iron , Water Landmarks of a long history, full of suffering , caused by losing and the light of acquired knowledge. Where sea , taiga and steppes lie
Where the sky is always blue
My ancestor dismounted their horses
And are climbing up to obo. Since ancient times people living in the forest have valued the tree; perhaps became depended on the tree long before fire. They made bows, arrows, utensils and the “house” itself — shed, a rawhide tent, a hut or a yurta from tree. Cedar, fir, pine and larch were held sacred. From childhood men and women wore long sheepskin robes Footwear was made from horse and con skins bummer dunghills (robes) and trousers were made from sheep skin, ninety coats (dunghills) did not differ from summer ones by their cut. The Buryats have believed since time immemorial that “fire is a spark fallen from the Heaven” . Not a single celebration, not a single event in the life of the Buryat tribe could happen without a bonfire the shaman prayed asking the Eternal Blue Heaven for fortune, happiness and blessings. The Buryats yurta maintained relations with the sky through the flue. As fire was considered a sacred thing, there were a number of rules and customs associated (a sacred thing) with its use. For example, it was forbidden to throw rubbish into the fire to stir fire with anything sharp, to sit with one’s feet stretched towards the fire and to touch the coals with one’s foot.
It was forbidden to defile fire by firing a stove with dirt firewood of unclean hands. The shaman played the main part in ritual ceremonies. That’s why his garment and decorations were symbolic. A shaman’s fighting cloak, “orgoi” differed from an ordinary fur-coat in that different decorations were hung upon it — tassels of skins of beasts, metal pendants in the shape of figures of men, horses and birds, bells and circles. The shaman’s head was crowed with an iron helmet — maihabshi — with a crossed — shaped cover and plate metal horns. Conical tubes “holboho” chains and plates completed his garment. All the wealth of the native land is from the Earth’s udder
, said her children the... Buryats Raising up in their stirrups and looking over the steppe horizons to behold sheep, like foamy whitecaps, grazing in the Doundless Sea of grass near the hills and herds of horses along the pear like string of the river. During celebration the ground was covered with white felt, white birch, growing from the earth, was decorated with pieces of white silk and the earth was sprinkled with white milk from a white mare as a means of asking the earth for prosperity. In addition, white khadak was presented with the hands as a sign of respect. The Appearance of white dairy products marks the beginning of any Buryat holiday whether big or small. The main festival of the year is, as in the olden days Sagaalhan, meaning the Coming of the White Month, it is celebrated according to the on the first day of the “spring” month most often on February. Sagaalhan is celebrated a people’s holiday. It begins with the presenting to each other of white khadak and dairy products: milk, aurds, dried scums, rice porridge, etc. Months before the holiday or ever earlier people begin to prepare for it. The khadak was presented in such a manner: a younger person approached an older one keeping the khadak on the outstretched palms of hands and put it on the hand of the older one who in turn placed thskhac1ak on the right arm of the younger. Finally they joined their arms from the elbows of the hands.
In the morning of the first day everybody gets up early, women tidy up the yurta, make brick-tea and cook food. At sunshine in front of the yurta, a stand is made on a dais in the form of the Altar and “sang” as kindled... The family goes around the dais and then kneels to pray. Next all congratulate their father on the holiday and he in turn wishes his children happiness and longevity. When each family finished its own rites and congratulations, men having put their best dress on pay a visit to the elder clan member or another important person. After mutual congratulations and brief talk, the feasting begins. While raising his glass every guest should wish the host every happiness (yurol). In each family the elder’s clan kept an eye on the observance of rites. A Buryat family was inseparable; parents always lived with the families of their sons. The National park “Alkhanay” Alkhanay –is the highest mountain on the territory of Duldurga region. It is connected with history of the Buddhism and name Chingis-han. On Alkhanay is found 12 shrines. The most honoring of them - the Temple Gate. This is a natural arch in, what the lamas consider, forms the channel, linking our world with Shambaloy... Under arch is found Suburgan - small Buddhist's mortar. It is considered that Temple- Gate is connected with island Ol’hon on Baikal invisible thread. On wordless HHIH Pandito Hambo-lamas of the Dam Ayusheeva, Alkhanay charges the positive energy unique nature here of the places, but his advisable sources help all regardless of their creed. Date of the creation: 15 May 1999 General area (ga): 138234 Area of the safe zone (ga): 10525 Amount area: 1 In 1999 on territory of the mountain Alkhanay, including her vicinities, decision government to Russia on the initiative broad public and administrations of Aginsk neighborhood was created national park, its area 138234 ga. Womb of the Mother on a legend says, if the woman which wants to have the child, will come to this hole and will pull out there from stone, she is necessary pregnant. The crack sin is considered that the one who to climb in this crack - will be cleared of all sins. A Temple - Gate - aperture in a rock formed for the account winds. Curative water baths created by a nature their temperature on the average 10 degrees the purpose. The peak of a tourist season since July till September, sometimes number of the visitors happens up to 2000 men and it has an effect on a condition of an environment. Alkhanay it is mountains, caves, fanned legend, exactly with such places is bound huge throng deity and spirit, owners of terrain in Buddhism and Shamanism the Mountain Alkhanay pertains to five holy tops of the north Buddhism. Temple- Great good is found beside its basis. The most curious here natural grotto, there is rift in its code, leaving in depth of the, and from she oozes water, which is considered advisable. People drink water and giving grain, coin etc. Two kilometers of the ascent and you stand before Sendema. It is a keeper Buddhism faiths and feminine beginning. The legend “Monster” of Zabaikalye. Mountain “Alkhanay” is in Duldurga region. In 1980 it was announced a monument of nature. It is 1664 meters high, but among Aginsk steppe it looks very big. There is a taiga around the mountains but “Alkhanay” likes as island. The rivers IIya and Duldurga flow around it. The name of this mountain was from Buryat — Mongol’s word “alha” it means “monster”. The old Buryats performed Alkhanay as a monster lying on the lowland. The Buryat religious ceremony “alhana” was appeared here that is adoration to the monster. From this ceremony the mountain got its name.
When there was sorrow, despondency, necessity, the people asks from monster kindness and condescension.
Scientists thought that there are millions years ago it was a volcano. Rocks and stones on the Alkhanay have different forms. The time, water and the wind worked of them. Now there are many grottos such as “Sunny Temple”, “Craw-People”, “Unknown Temple” in Alkhanay.
Here is a very interesting legend about Rock “Stone- Heart”. Many year ago a hero Alkhanay lived there. He had no sons, but he had two daughters — IIya and Duldurga. He loved them very much. They were very smart and beautiful. And one day they were falling in love to Onon, because this young man was strong and beautiful. But Onon loved the youngest sister Duldurga and llya loved him too. Duldurga wanted that her sister will be happy. She decided to give llya her beauty and died. Onon and IIya had just married and left his father. The father Alkhanay was very distressed; his heart had changed into a stone.
Now the river Duldurga flows into IIya and IIya flows into Onon, but Alkhanay stands alone with the stone heart.
Once more sight of Alkhanay is a gate on the south west of mountain. People call this gate “Gate Temple”. There is an interesting place “Nine Falls” in Alkhanay. The water is very cold and clear here. It is a mineral source. Besides such wonderful creation of nature Alkhanay gives the people the annual harvest of mushrooms, berries and cedar-nuts. Alkhanay is rich in medicinal grasses.
Now Alkhanay is a National Park it is well — known all over the world. Its stands on the seventh place from 30 in the world among the most interesting places. Vocabulary Ceremony —обряд
Adoration -поклонение
Obey — повиновение
Sorrow, grief — горе
Despondency — отчаяние
Necessity — нужда
Condescension — снисхождение
Volcano — вулкан
Grottos, cave — пещера
Sunny Temple — Солнечный Храм
Crawl People — ползущие люди
Unknown Temple — Храм неведомый Womb of the mother- Чрево матери
Stone-Heart — Камень- сердце
Distress — огорчаться
Temple- Gate — Xpaм Bopoтa
Creation — творение