One of the brightest traditional ceremonies of Obskie Ugri during many centuries is «Bear games». Hunting for bear (who is traditionally called Sharp-clawed old man») is a ritual ceremony, where you can find all traditional kinds of art: dances, songs, performances etc. It is not easy to get to such ceremony. «Bear games» are performed at several places, where the old performers are still alive. Ceremony usually lasts 3 days, from noon to morning, with small break for sleeping.
For researchers and people who are interested in the culture of north nations we provide a tour to «Bear games» of Kazim Khanty, they live in Beloiarskii district of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomus Okrug – Ugra.
One of the brightest traditional ceremonies of Obskie Ugri during many centuries is «Bear games». Hunting for bear (who is traditionally called Sharp-clawed old man») is a ritual ceremony, where you can find all traditional kinds of art: dances, songs, performances etc. It is not easy to get to such ceremony. «Bear games» are performed at several places, where the old performers are still alive. Ceremony usually lasts 3 days, from noon to morning, with small break for sleeping.
For researchers and people who are interested in the culture of north nations we provide a tour to «Bear games» of Kazim Khanty, they live in Beloiarskii district of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomus Okrug – Ugra.
Tour program:
1st Day. Arriving to Beloiarskii. Meeting in the airport. Round-up excursion in Beloiarskii. Transport to Kazim (50 minutes by bus). During the drive there will be an excursion «The land of cat’s elbow». Staying at the apartment. Lunch. Visiting Kazim open air ethnographical museum (There you can buy some souvenirs). Supper, free time.
2nd – 3rd day. Breakfast. A trip to Khanty settlement (1 hour drive by snowmobile). Staying in wooden houses or «Chum» (traditional home of north nations). Preparing for the ceremony. (costumes, divinations, etc). Beginning of the ceremony: The song of coming bear. «Voi Arat»- bear songs. Men and women dances. «Mich Arat»- songs of «Mich» spirit. «Niach Arat» – funny songs. Performances. Lullaby for a bear. First day end at 4 or 5 am. Supper. Tee.
3rd – 4th day. «Kiltati Ar» – the song of awakening bear. Breakfast. Ceremony of sacrifice. Food. Continue of the ceremony.
4th – 5th day. «Kiltati Ar» – the song of awakening bear. Breakfast. Continue of the ceremony. «Voi Arat»- bear songs. Men and women dances. «Mich Arat»- songs of «Mich» spirit. «Niach Arat» – funny songs. Performances. Sacral part of the ceremony. Arrival of great spirits. Ceremony is finishing at 6-7am. Breakfast. Arriving to Kazim. Staying at apartments. Lunch. Rest.
6th day. Breakfast. Transport to Beloiarskii. Departure from Beloiarskii.
Tour costs 800 euro per person.
Flight from Moscow to Beloyarskii and back to Moscow costs about 400 euro.
The tour cost consist of transportations Beloiarskii-Kazim-Niarsagort-Beloiarskii;. Snowmobile rental. At the base we have breakfast, lunch and supper + snacks. We provide ceremony excursion.
You pay extra for:
-meeting and dwelling at your arriving city
-translator
-if you want to rent national clothes, you should make a notice beforehand
-Photo, video, audio recording of the ceremony.
Note: You need to have warm clothes!
Temperature in March is from -10C to -20C. Snow is about 50-100sm high.
The Tour starts from Beloiarskii.
