Shaman tree on the Tomonyok Pass. The Argut River and the Samakha Steppe. Altai, Siberia, Russian Federation
Why Are Ribbons Being Tied up on Trees? Almost every mountain pass in Altai is “decorated” with white flying ribbons. These ribbons are tied up on trees branches or on the tops of stone pyramids (oboo tash). This is a hea then rite of worshipping the spirit of Altai - Altaidyn Eezi. The ritual is called kaira or dyalama (yalama). In Altaic creation myths the world is depicted as divided into three spheres - the Heaven, the Earth, and the Underground. The tree with ribbons tied up to it serves as a bridge between the three worlds. The tree branches stretch upwards to the realm of gods, the trunk is firm on the earth where man dwells, and its roots go underground to the world of spirits. Ribbons can be tied up only on the eastern side of the birch, larch, and Siberian pine and only to trees that grow in particular places. These places are mountain passes, springs (arzhans), and places where the juniper (archyn) grows. Dyalama symbolizes thankfulness to nature and to the spirit of Altai. It also means to bring welfare to a traveler. As a rule dyalamas are long (80 - 100 cm) ribbons cut from a new cloth white in color. But sometimes ribbons of other colors are used. Yellow color symbolizes the sun and the moon, pink - fire, blue - the sky and stars, green - nature and sacramental plants.
Size: 9376px × 3465px
Location: Tomonyok Pass Argut River Samakha Steppe Altai Altay Mountains Republic Siberia Siberian Russia
Photo credit: © Pavel Filatov / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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