Hundreds of people flocked to southern Siberia in late June to celebrate the ancient rituals and traditions of shamanism in one of Russia’s first shaman festivals.
Some researchers consider Siberia to be the heartland of shamanism. Today, this ancient religious practice is still performed in Russia, with spiritual healing techniques and ceremonial rites passed on from generation to generation.
More than 100 shamans came to the Irkutsk region for the festival, traveling from neighboring regions and from as far away as Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast.
In addition to showcasing their unique culture, Russian shamans used the festival as a platform to voice their rights and seek recognition of shamanism as a religion at the state level.
