On March 1, 2025, the Buddhist New Year, known as Sagaalgan, will be celebrated across various regions of Russia, including Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva. This festival marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated with family gatherings, special rituals, and traditional foods.
Sagaalgan follows the lunar calendar, occurring on the first new moon of spring. The celebration includes cleansing rituals performed to eradicate bad luck and obstacles. It is customary for families to celebrate together at home, where they prepare festive dishes focusing on dairy products, symbolizing prosperity and abundance. Traditional foods might include milk, sour cream, and cottage cheese, which hold cultural significance among nomadic peoples.
Notably, the history of Sagaalgan traces back to Mongolian customs, originally celebrated during the fall and related to livestock breeding. Historical events led to this New Year being shifted to spring under the influence of Kublai Khan, who was intrigued by Chinese astronomy. The festival later incorporated Buddhist elements as it spread through regions influenced by Mongolia.
Since its revival following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when it was previously prohibited due to its religious connotations, Sagaalgan has been recognized as part of Russia's cultural heritage, even being included on UNESCO's list of cultural practices. Many locals aplenty adopt pre-celebration rituals by cleaning their homes, participating in the ancient rite of Dugjuuba, which involves making small dough figures symbolizing misfortunes and later burning them at temples to signify the eradication of negativity.
This festival will see various events scheduled from February 28 to March 1, featuring ceremonies such as the construction of sand mandalas and communal prayers. Notable religious sites like the Tuvinian monastery "Tubten Shedrub Ling" and the central temples in Kalmykia will hold significant rituals connected to the New Year.
On February 28, the Buddhist community will gather for prayers heralding the New Year, enjoying various food offerings alongside reflection on the past year's events, aligning practices with hopes for personal and communal improvement for the coming year. The first day of this festival, considered sacred and safe from bad fortune if spent at home with family, kicks off the 15-day period known as the 'Days of Miracles', dedicated to self-reflection and Dharma practice according to several teachings.
According to Lama Soppa Rinpoche, this period is especially favorable for practicing compassion, meditation, and acts of generosity, with the karmic effects of actions believed to amplify significantly during this time. Various centers and temples will host activities including meditation sessions, candle offerings, and recitations, inviting all devotees and interested parties to join.
Specifically, on February 28, Kalmykia will host the New Year's celebrations with the commencement of festivities at 8 AM, where the ceremonial prayer offerings will attract devotees to their main temple, "Golden Temple of Shakyamuni Buddha". Reported festivities will extend well past the hour, with activities planned throughout the days leading up to and including the official New Year on March 1, ensuring participation from the community.
Across Buryatia, similar events will take place, including the ritual of “Dugjuuba,” which aims to liberate participants from misfortunes, emphasizing the cultivation of positive momentum heading forward. Temples will act as focal points for these events, providing guidance on community engagement and rituals.
Attendees will be encouraged to bring offerings and notes of gratitude to support their local Buddhistic institutions; such efforts create significant communal dialogues around culture, identity, and shared experience. The overall atmosphere during the festival is expected to resonate with joy, hope, and practices dedicated to achieving harmony within oneself, others, and the cosmos.
With March 1 marking the beginning of the new year, the ceremonious practices will grasp everyone's attention, highlighting how Sagaalgan not only speaks of ancient traditions but also interweaves contemporary life with its messages of renewal and hope.