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MARI HEATHEN PRAYINGS IN THE VSEVOLOZHSK DISTRICT OF THE LENINGRAD REGION 3D NOVEMBER 2013 // Tomsk Journal of Linguistics and Anthropology. 2014. Issue 2 (4). P. 72-76

The article represents ethnographic fieldnotes. Heathen rites performed by members of the Mari expatriate community of Saint-Petersburg and the Leningrad region during a Mari feast are described in it. The latter is devoted first of all to the presiding deity of the Mari pantheon Kugu Yumo. Autumn prayings of the Mari people are confined to the end of the main agricultural work and are principally aimed at sharing the harvest and the animal yield with the presiding deity for ensuring good luck in the following year. The rites presented in the article correspond generally to the descriptions of the Mari heathen rites made earlier in the areas of compact settlement of the Mari people. The description and some elements of the interpretation of the entourage are provided in the article. For instance, the author of the article describes the so-termed “gate” («ворота») through which people are intended to come to the sacred hill, as well as the sacred fire, the altar, the general dress of the priest (called kart (карт) in the Mari language) and of his assistants. The ornaments on the towels hanging over the altar are described and interpreted. Besides, some rules working at such an event (concerning, for example, taking photographs or participating in the proper prayings) are mentioned in the article. There is a quite detailed description of the rite of sacrification, of preparing the ritual meal, of the personal and common prayings. Some illustrations consisting of photographs from the event are also provided by the author.

Keywords: Finno-Ugric studies, Mari culture, religion, paganism, prayings