Impressions of visiting the home of the shaman Nikolai from the city of Naryan-Mare, Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
On the way to the shaman's plague, beautiful snowy places opened up. Plague stands five kilometers from Naryan-Mar on the shore of Molodezhniy Lake
Having approached the chum, we were told that the shaman was busy. At the entrance to the chum, the husky loyally awaits the owner.
Ten minutes later we entered the chum and a shaman greeted us. Shurpa was already boiling on the stove and the shaman sat us down at the table. The first thing he started with was an introduction to the plague. A little about the plague: the plague is a universal dwelling place for northern peoples. This is a portable cone-shaped tent, the shape of which is adapted to suit the tundra. The conical shape is the most convenient, since the snow rolls down from the steep surface of the chum without lingering, therefore, when moving to another place, it can be disassembled without raking and cleaning the chum. The cone shape makes the dwelling stable in snowstorms and strong winds. Usually, the hut of reindeer herders - Khanty, Nenets, Komi, Entsy - consists of 25-40 poles and several covers, which are placed on special sledges when moving. The size of the dwelling depends on the number of poles (and their length): the more poles, the more spacious the tent. The size of the plague also depends on the material capabilities of the economy and on the number of family members.
The shaman warned us that in the chum we cannot hold onto the poles, a bad omen.
Promotional video:
In the center of the chum there is a stove, which serves as a heat source and is adapted for cooking. The heat from the furnace rises upward and prevents precipitation from penetrating into the chum: they evaporate from the high temperature. Deer skins are hung near the chimney for drying and subsequent production of leather for a tambourine.
Frameworks with resonators for tambourines. Making a tambourine is a complex multistage process of mostly manual production. Which is called a craft, folk craft. Craftsmanship.
A dressed deer skin (wet) is pulled onto the frame of a tambourine, dried, drawings are applied and this is what happens.
They brought with them vegetables, fruits, venison was from the owners of the chum. Shurpa was drunk from glasses, meat must be eaten with your hands, if you entered the chum then follow the traditions, says the Shaman.
Modestly but tastefully
The furnace is the main source of heat. The CHUM workers are watching the stove, if you don't follow the stove, then in 15-20 minutes the temperature in the chum will be like outside.
The booth is a specific sleeping place covered with reindeer skins and with a closing top. A booth in a tent is set for everyone in a certain place. Parents sleep separately, chum workers separately, children separately. In the plague there is a certain place to enter or step on which is strictly prohibited for all inhabitants of the plague. Chum workers are mostly women.
To wash your hands in a tent is no problem, everything is adjusted.
There is a special place outside for storing reindeer skins. If necessary, they are sent to the chum for drying.
The shaman has two huskies, Smoke and Raven. The smartest dogs and kind. Actually in the photo I, Smoke and the Raven.
The shaman talks about the power of the tambourine.
The workers of the plague often turn to the shaman, when they cannot understand a particular issue, the shaman will not refuse and prompt.
Modern tundra
Grateful visitors do not say "thank you", but "thank you", as the shaman Nikolai says, and thank you should be said to those women who gave birth to us and gave us life. The shaman has no tariffs or taxes, you can thank him with food, you can give even a penny yourself, but he will not tell you the prices.
After we were introduced to the plague, the shaman offered to tell us a little about us and what the future holds. I started my ritual.
A wedding was taking place in the neighboring chum, so the shaman walked back and forth, in our chum he was either in national clothes or in loose clothes.
After conducting a special ritual, the shaman began to tell and honestly I was stunned, telling me about my past and what is happening today, he saw almost all the moments from my life. I predicted something, I will not tell you about that.
Time flew by quickly and it was time to say goodbye to the plague and the shaman Nikolai. I am honestly amazed at his abilities, his good nature and warm attitude towards people.