The Kalmyks (and their Oyrat ancestors) made an entrance to the historic arena as an independent nation in the first half of the 15th century after Mongolia had split in two parts (Eastern and Western). Before this they used to be a part of the Mongol state created by Chenghis Khan in the 13th century. In the second half of the 16th century a considerable part of the Oyrats, who were traveling mostly in the steppes of Djungharia, left for Russia where they appeared at the end of the century. That is where the new chronicle of the Kalmyks - a Mongol-speaking nation in the European part of Russia starts.

Since the first decades of the 17th century the interests of Russia and the Kalmyks migrating within its territories had started to become similar to each other and already in the middle of the century the Kalmyks gave an oath of allegiance to the Russian tsar.

After the departure of many Kalmyks to Djungharia (China) Kalmykia temporarily lost its status, which was returned at the very end of the 19th century. But before the socialist revolution of 1917 the Kalmyks were separated and nearly lost their independence. That is why the Kalmyks followed the Bolsheviks' (Communists) national policy.

In 1920 the Kalmyk autonomous region was formed. In 1935 it was transformed into an autonomous republic. During the 20s and 30s Kalmykia made a considerable improvement in the economic and cultural spheres.

In December of 1943 Kalmyk ASSR due to erroneous accusations was abolished and the Kalmyks were deported to Siberia. In 1957 they were permitted to come back and the status of the republic was reestablished.

In February of 1992 the Republic of Kalmykia emerged as an autonomous republic as a legal entity of the Russian Federation. The Republic has its own president, parliament and organs of government.

The first Russian and Ukraine settlements appeared here in 30-40 years of the 19th century. People of diverse nationalities whose descendants live here till now occupied the territory of Kalmykia. They are the representatives of more than 90 nationalities. Kalmyks constitutes 45,4 %, Russians- 37,7%, Dargins/North Caucasian of Islam confession - 4%. Kalmykia is the land of diverse ethnical and national composition.

Buddhism

The 145 000 Kalmyks – the largest ethnic group in the Kalmyk Republic – are traditionally members of the Gelugpa or “Yellow-Hat” sect of Tibetan Buddhism, whose spiritual leader is Dalai Lama. The Kalmyks fled to their present region in the 17th century from wars in western Mongolia, where Buddhism has reached them not long before. Buddhism was tolerated by the Soviet state until Stalin nearly wiped it out in the 1930s. Today, temples are being rebuilt throughout the Kalmyk Republic.

Customs and traditions

The Kalmyks have many customs and traditions that have been preserved since the ancient times of their Mongol history. The Kalmyks used to be a nomadic people known as the Oyrats or the Western Mongols migrating in the area of the Central Asia. At the beginning of the 17th century the Kalmyks left for the Caspian Lowland steppes. Most of customs and traditions of the Kalmyks are still alive today.

Family

The head of the Kalmyk family or clan is determined by age. The younger members of the family respect and obey their elder and, in general, old age is in great respect.

Hospitality

Another tradition, which is strictly observed by the Kalmyks, is hospitality. There are no unwelcome guests for the Kalmyks who are always glad to meet even a total stranger offering him a drink and food without asking any questions. At the table a Kalmyk will ask his guest to have a seat to the right side of him to show his respect while the left side seats are for his family and relatives.

Fire ceremony

Fire played an important role in the customs and traditions of the Kalmyks who believed that fire could clean everything from the bad and dirty. The Kalmyks migrating from their winter camps to spring, summer and fall pastures worked out a special ceremony making two fires and passing between them with their cattle and belongings to be cleansed from the evil. For the same purpose travelers returning from their long journeys were also to pass between the two fires with their horses and carts.

Traditional food

The Kalmyks prefer to eat mutton and goat’s meat. Mutton is considered to have healing features and is widely used to treat ill people. Instead of bread the Kalmyks bake “pyshki”, rye bread baked without salt.

The traditional and most beloved drink of the Kakmyks is Kalmyk tea. It is usually made of pressed tea leafs which are put into the boiled water. After that salt, flour, mutton grease or butter should be added. The Kalmyks drink tea from small wooden cups and add nutmeg powder. Drinking tea is an indispensable part of the Kalmyks’ life.

The Kalmyks also use milk for getting Kalmyk vodka – araki. Sheeps’ milk is used for getting cheese, mare’s milk – for getting kumys, Kalmyk traditional beverage.

Traditional Dwelling

As the Kalmyks were migrating from winter camps to spring, summer and autumn pastures, their dwelling was very easy to set and move from one place to another. Kalmyk nomad tent, or ‘yurta”, is a felt tent placed on the wooden skeleton. The light comes to yurta from “kharachi” – a hole in the tent’s roof that also served as a chimney outcome.

Inside yurta, you can see a small bed covered with felt. To the left of the bed, the Kalmyks usually place a box of “burkhans” – religious items and valuables. There is a small colored red or gilded table in front of the burkhan on which the Kakmyks usually place their thank-offerings. The fireplace in the center of the yurta is a sacred place in the Kalmyk dwelling.

Folk costume

Historically, the Kalmyks were a nomadic people and their way of living influenced greatly Kalmyk traditional folk costume. The main part of a man’s costume is a “terlg”, a kind of light robe. Similar gowns were wide spread among the Turks and the Mongolians.