Snow is an ally of the Russians. It feeds and entertains, warms and protects. Treat snow seriously and with respect, and it will become your ally in conquering spaces so vast that many people cannot even imagine such magnificence.

As a child, I sometimes encountered a somewhat sympathetic attitude from peers from other cities who learned that I was from Kalmykia. “Oh, we know, we know! - they said. “Elista, camels, eternal heat, continuous Karakum and New Year under the palm trees.” Only the first two points coincided with reality among such experts. And even then, you don’t see camels often here.
Of course, in Kalmykia they know very well what snow is. One of the most vivid memories of my childhood is fresh snow, fluffy and soft, which creaks so musically underfoot. We, Elista boys, loved to ski - race and distance, for a bet and just like that, we cut the ice of Kolonsky Pond with our skates.
I can’t say whether the environment is really deteriorating, or whether age is taking its toll, but the snow no longer seems so soft, white and musical to me. It is probably precisely because of this nostalgia for the snow of my childhood that my soul is so responsive to Alexander Galich’s poem “Kaddish”:

The echo will call out its old nickname,
And the snow will fall like a gingerbread cover,
And the world is big and festive again,
When I become a cloud again
When I become a finch again,
When I'm little again
And the snow will smell like apples again,
They will carry me off the sleepy porch,
And I will wake up from the creaking of the sled,
When will I be little again
And I will rediscover the world of miracles.
But snow still remains our faithful ally. How much harvest would our gardens and fields produce if the snow did not warm them during the long winter and water them with melt water in the spring? Snow protects us, fights shoulder to shoulder with us: it stopped the armies of Napoleon’s twelve languages, froze the Wehrmacht’s equipment so that Luftwaffe planes could not take off.
The snow helped us explore our vast expanses. It is not for nothing that Kalmyks consider the wish for a white road to be one of their kindest wishes. Summer roads have always been associated with not the most pleasant sensations: by the time you get from pasture to pasture, all your sides will be damaged by potholes. And getting stuck in the middle of the steppe after rain is also not good. And along the sleigh path it’s like on a tablecloth: fly where you want!
To this day, there are places in Russia that can only be reached by helicopter or by winter road. And the point here is not a lazy and sluggish government: nature itself offers us a choice - either leave this bear wilderness alone, or develop it, despite all natural adversities.
Take another look at the map of Canada: at the same latitudes where our cities flourish, the population density there is much lower. Alaska, compared to our regions, is also not so densely populated. I don’t know what the mystery is, but the fact remains: other peoples do not need frozen, snow-covered expanses, they are afraid of them. It turns out exactly like the joke about a MGIMO student, a representative of hot Africa, who was asked how he likes the Russian climate. "ABOUT! - he answered. “The green winter is still here and there, but the white winter is really bad!”
Yes, but we are not talking about the inhabitants of Africa, but about our neighbors - Europeans and Americans. Indeed, they perceive snow as something magical and Christmassy. But provided that it lasts no more than a week or two.
Many people have probably heard about the tradition of London carnivals on the ice of the Thames. There weren’t that many of them: every case of a river freezing became a memorable event. Celebrations and skating were organized, the royal family solemnly appeared to the people, and publishers set up their printing presses right on the ice and printed all sorts of little things - from business cards to entertainment books, which have now become priceless auction rarities.
However, as soon as the snow came for a long time, panic began. Let us remember that the year 1816 went down in the annals of history as the year without summer. European and American memoirs of that event are full of horrifying stories about crop failure, about people who froze and died of hunger. The Americans even gave it the name “The Year that Frozen to Death.”
And only the inhabitants of Russia did not leave any evidence of terrible suffering. Why? Did the sun separately heat our earth? Hardly. Modern scientists believe that global cooling (also called the “Little Ice Age”) was caused by the super-eruption of Mount Tambora. Which means it should have gone to everyone. Only the Russians didn’t notice anything: it was like a year. Just think, a little cooler than before...
And even now: as soon as the snow falls a little more than usual in New York or Brussels, a transport collapse and a communal catastrophe begin. We laugh at our officials, for whom winter always comes unexpectedly, but in the West things are even worse. There, people, spoiled by the warm Gulf Stream, still do not want to believe that winter lasts for a long time.
In the West, to this day, they have not understood that snow requires being treated with all respect. But he also responds in kind. Snow taught us not to be afraid of either the wide open spaces or the icy darkness of the northern winter. Snow taught us not to be afraid of difficult tasks and to win, no matter what.
It is not for nothing that our great scientist Mikhail Lomonosov, in an ode to the phenomenon of the northern lights, wrote with delight: “An abyss has opened, full of stars. The stars have no count, the abyss has no bottom.”
We are not afraid of icy silence, no matter what clothes it wears. If necessary, we will pass through it, as our ancestors passed through for centuries, and we will complete any of our tasks. We will go through any snow storm without even thinking about getting lost in it, simply because we are curious: what is there? What's behind the snow curtain?
Yes, if you are wondering how I feel about snow, the answer is: I feel great.

Shamanic mystery “Opening of the White Road”- This purification ritual by the fire with a shamanic tambourine, which eliminates bad influences and negative energies. During the shamanic mystery, a new path will open for you, and all sorts of obstacles will disappear. Those who come to the mystery receive an internal connection with the knowledge of antiquity!

• Shamans are saviors of people, exorcists of evil demons, healers of serious illnesses.
• Shamans are the chosen ones. Before becoming the chosen one, they go through life's troubles, suffering and illness. All shamans have a difficult past, accepting their path, they take the White Road.

What does the white road mean?

“We wish you a white road” - such words can be read on road signs or heard by a traveler leaving an Asian city and going to the steppe and desert. In the language of the peoples inhabiting Central and Central Asia - Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Mongols - this expression means a wish for a happy journey. “The White Road” is the title of the first book by documentary photographer Ivan Segal, published by Steidl in 2012.

Ivan Seagal was born in 1969 in the American state of Pennsylvania. He shoots photo reports, is engaged in editorial activities and works as the executive director of the international network community Global Voices, which unites authors and translators from different countries in order to convey to readers information that has remained beyond the attention of the official media. Ivan spent 1998 – 2005 in the territory of the former Soviet Union and Asia, constantly moving around Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. The result of this almost seven-year “odyssey”, during which Seagal was not only an observer, but also a curator of media projects of local journalists, was the album “White Road”, including photographs and original texts.

Find out what the “white road” means in a dream right now

For ideal well-being, it is recommended for an adult to rest seven hours a day. While you are enjoying sleep, your body is gaining strength, your subconscious is receiving information from the subtle world. If in the morning you remember that you dreamed of a white road, be sure to find out what this dream was about!

In the lives of each of us, questions arise that we cannot find answers to on our own. If you are faced with a difficult situation, ask for advice from a Higher Power. Using the power of dreams, you can get an answer to any question that concerns relationships. All you have to do is go to bed early and interpret the dream in the morning.

What does the white road mean?

Sometimes both together. - He got up. We were almost the same height, but he was wider than me. - Reverend Faulkner will soon become a central figure for the new movement, a unifying figure. We are attracting more and more supporters to our ranks. With people come money, power and influence. It's not difficult at all, Mr. Parker. It's all very simple. Faulkner is the remedy. And I am the alpha and omega of our business. Now I encourage you to get out and enjoy the views of South Carolina while you still can. I have a feeling this is your last chance. Mr. Kittim will walk you to your car.

But despite efforts to stop them, the burning of thirty black churches in South Carolina in 1991 and the involvement of Ku Klux Klan members in at least two arson incidents in Williamsburg and Clarendon suggested otherwise. In other words, the Klan fighters may have lost their fire, but the militant racists he represented were still alive and thriving. Now Bowen was trying to give new impetus to the movement. And, according to press reports, he acted successfully.

What does an orange solid stripe on the road mean?

When markings have stroke lengths half as long as the gaps, overtaking vehicles is permitted. The corresponding sign and intermittent yellow markings on the road mean that parking in such areas is prohibited, but stopping or unloading is allowed.
The line may be present at the very edge of the road, painted on the curb. Such markings on suburban sections of roads prohibit stopping in the marked area, and violation of the rule will be regarded as driving on the side of the road.

Now let's return to our roads: What did the markings look like in August: This is what the markings look like today: What has changed? What has changed is that the markings have disappeared, in some places completely, and in almost many places the yellow paint has disappeared, and the white paint is in its place.

What does the white line on the road mean?

Yulia (Latrina) Number of children
In order to clearly see the line of children before your eyes, you will need a magnifying glass. The fact is that children's features can be quite difficult to see with the naked eye, as they can be small and unclear.
Turn your hand sideways and bend your palm slightly. Below the little finger from the marriage line, which I already wrote about, you will notice small upward lines - they mean the number of your children. If the line is clear and distinct, then it says that the person will have a son. Thin and inexpressive - indicates a daughter.
But one important nuance should also be taken into account. The lines extending from the love line speak only of your potential, and do not necessarily correspond to the true state of affairs. For example, there are two processes from the line, and you only have one child, therefore, if you previously had an abortion or had a miscarriage, then this will be unrealized potential. Be sure to look at both hands. On the left, you can usually see the potential number of children, and on the right – the real one. By the way, if you are left-handed, then everything will be exactly the opposite for you.
If on the hill of Mercury you did not find vertical rods extending from the marriage line, then you can see your future children on the life line, where a small line extends upward, it is also called the line of happiness. After all, the birth of a child is one of the most joyful events in a person’s life.
The heir (for men) can clearly see a thin line between the index and middle fingers.
Also, sons (for women) can be seen at the base of the thumb on the right hand (for right-handed people) - there will be a “son’s ring” (a line consisting of chain links), it means the birth of predominantly male children.

Yulia (Latrina) Signs of cheating on the hand (we identify revelers:)
Here you need to look for the following signs mainly on the right hand (in right-handed people): 1) The first sign of betrayal and desire to satisfy sensual and sexual pleasures in a person is the full barred Mount of Venus (No.-1) of a reddish hue, it indicates an excess energy accumulated in the hill, which should be put somewhere. 2) If the Heart Line is intermittent, consists of fragments (No. 2) or the Line is drawn widely in the form of a chain, then this indicates instability in relationships and instability in the emotional sphere of feelings. 3) Another contributing factor on the hand, which indicates an increased interest in the opposite sex, is a large number of lines of affection (Marriage Lines No. 3), they are located on the edge of the palm under the little finger. 4) Here we add the Ring of Venus on the hand (No. 4), an arc encircling the middle and ring fingers - it means a passionate and ardent nature. In the case of a double or even triple ring of Venus, we get a person with unnatural psychological sensitivity and imagination, which he will use in sexual relationships (a pervert, in a word). 5) A serious sign of betrayal can be considered unnoticeable lines of a very fine structure; they hide, just like lovers, so as not to be noticed, and stretch along the marriage line parallel to it. And exactly the same lines appear on the Life Line, thin, imperceptible and short, but sometimes only a palmist can distinguish them.

What do yellow road markings mean?

• Serves addition to road signs.
• Can warn you when approaching various road signs.
• Indicates that dangerous areas are nearby roads.
• Delimits the roadway, serves as a divider for traffic lanes.

• White markings are permanent applied in most cases to mark the edge of the roadway and divide the roadway into stripes. It can be intermittent or continuous, and also mark a pedestrian crossing or serve as a stop line before a traffic light, crossing or pedestrian crossing.
• The orange markings are temporary. Most often it is applied if there are road works going on somewhere nearby and there is a need to change the permanent markings in order to ensure safety or better passability of the route.
• Yellow markings are permanent, used along with white markings to achieve good visibility. It can be found at bus stops, along roadsides, at pedestrian crossings along with white markings.

Book: White Road

More and more tribes were constantly arriving at the camp, so that they swore allegiance to the Messenger all day, and maybe all night. The Nolem tribe was now swearing allegiance to her, and I was already standing in the crowd and looking at the line of warriors ascending the oath hill. When the last one in the column passed me, I, obeying an unexpected impulse, grabbed several copper coins, which made up my entire fortune, from my pocket and threw them at him. Coins rained down on the armor with a cheerful clink, but the warrior was not happy about this sign of attention, but, on the contrary, pulled his head even deeper into his shoulders...

Left alone, I indulged in gloomy thoughts. It’s not difficult, of course, to send this bungler for the box, maybe he’ll even be lucky and be able to steal it, but... At one time I studied magic, that pitiful part of it that is available to merchants. However, many years have passed since then. Will I be able to remember how to open a channel? I tried to do this operation mentally and failed completely. However, if I have the parts in front of me, I may be able to assemble a transition machine. Tapis was limited to one green crystal, but I don’t know how to focus my will like that.

To the question Why do Kalmyks say goodbye to you: “Have a safe journey!”? given by the author philosophy the best answer is The question seems simple in appearance: in the mountains there are roads - white, red - of various colors, and black - black. The White Road is a clean road, without traffic jams, traffic cops, in short, problem-free...
I went into the search engine and read a lot, as always)))
but I won’t write everything...otherwise you’ll change your mind about going)))
several songs that I have never heard, but the poems are quite tolerable, considering that this is Garik Sukachev))
Nothing comes easy,
Even a small step, even the smallest thing.
And nothing will happen in vain or out of spite
This phrase is worthless, you're lucky.
White roads, white roads

White roads, white roads
My feet went all white roads.
And there’s a callous lump in my throat and my heart is beating so painfully.
I am disgustingly wounded by myself.
Only the snow outside the window sparkles so wonderfully and charmingly.
I exchanged sips, he measured his steps.
White roads, and white roads

White roads, white roads
All the white roads have trampled my feet.
I am soaked in wine, I am burned with passions.
I don’t forgive myself, but I’m not crushed by myself.
But only snow outside the window, already snow outside the window.
For some reason he is beautifully sad in a childish way.
White roads, white roads
My feet went all white roads.
White roads, white roads
All the white roads have trampled my feet.
My feet went all white roads.
All the white roads have trampled my feet...
****************************************
here is another interesting interpretation of the white road... .
The symbol of the white road is interesting. The White Road is the Milky Way.
**********************************************
We immediately remember Marina Tsvetaeva...
I'm walking up the white road
Dusty, ringing, steep.
My light legs don't get tired
Rise above the heights.
On the left is the steep back of Ayu-Dag,
The blue abyss is all around.
I remember the curly magician
These lyrical places.
****************************
Well, I got to what you actually needed)))
The symbolism of color - positive for the word “white” and negative for the word “black” - is ancient and universal not only for European peoples, but is also confirmed by data from Mongolian languages. Through the symbolism of the white color, the components of the value systems of many peoples, including the Kalmyks, are transmitted: the sacred white color characterizes material objects, moral concepts, and social phenomena.
The symbolism of the color white in folklore must be associated with the primitive man’s perception of the change of day and night: the sunrise, the onset of day - this is the beginning of a good, white day, this is salvation from hostile forces - night, darkness, cold. White is a symbol of light. The main figurative use of the color white (Mong. Tsagaan, Bur. Sagaan, Kalm. Tsagan) in Mongolian languages ​​is a designation of something sublime.
Wishes for a safe journey in the Kalmyk language Tsagan haalgta bolj,.. – lit. We wish you a white road. They are given farewells both before a long journey and during all sorts of undertakings. In phraseological combinations - wishes for a happy journey in Turkic languages, the adjective white - ak is also used: in the Tatar language this is the combination ak yul, in Turkmen - ak pata bermek.
In all the given phrases, the adjective “white” is not so much a color designation as a generalization of specific properties, the qualities of individual objects, which determines the dignity of a person.

A wish for a white road is a wish for a clean, bright path, without obstacles and difficulties. These words, perhaps, were heard more often than others in mid-September in Elista - to the most talented, brightest journalists in the South of Russia covering interethnic issues.

This is the second time Kalmykia has hosted participants in a creative competition for the best coverage of interethnic and ethno-confessional relations. In 2014, awards to the most talented “media creators” in the South of Russia were also presented in Elista.

Lucky number 13

A lot has changed in 3 years: the number of competitive works has increased, the skills of the participants have grown, and many ideas for interregional projects have emerged. Only one thing remains unchanged: sincere passion for the topic, a willingness to get to know your country, the traditions and customs of the peoples inhabiting it, and the desire to tell your readers, listeners, and viewers about it.

The coveted prize is a figurine depicting the sun with a round dance of stars, where each star symbolizes one of the peoples of Russia. The most talented, most passionate about the topic. In order to find them, members of the expert council and the competition jury reviewed 768 works from 181 media outlets published in the Southern Federal District. The short list included publications from 40 media outlets, and only 13 of them became winners.

The awards to the best “media creators” of the South were presented by the head of the Republic of Kalmykia Alexey Orlov, the chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia Vsevolod Bogdanov, the president of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism Margarita Lyange, the chairman of the jury of the district stage Sanal Shavaliev, who heads the Union of Journalists of Kalmykia.

Every year, the competition’s expert council determines the most relevant direction in covering interethnic relations and announces the name of the special nomination. In 2017, this nomination became “Ethnotourism”. In the Southern District, interest in the topic of ethnic and ethnographic tourism is traditional, so the competition in this nomination was very high. In the Radio category, the competition's expert council decided not to award prizes due to the insufficient number of worthy works.

By a unanimous decision of the jury, the oldest newspaper in Kalmykia, Khalmg Unn, which celebrates its centenary in 2017, received a special prize. The idea of ​​this publication was born in St. Petersburg, where one of the founders of the newspaper, Nomto Ochirov, studied, and its first issue was published in Astrakhan. The name changed several times; the newspaper was not published for 13 years due to the deportation of Kalmyks, but having survived all the difficulties and hardships, it still remains the most authoritative media outlet in the republic. And just like a century ago, it unites different regions: the 1st International Forum of Journalists “National Press Today” was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the publication, at the same time the regional stage of the “Media Creator” competition was held.

It's time for business

In order to discuss the prospects and problems of national journalism, colleagues from 20 regions of Russia, the Southern and North Caucasus Federal Districts, Tuva, Buryatia, Moscow and St. Petersburg gathered in Elista. Representatives of the media from Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China also arrived.

The business program of the forum was rich and dynamic. The issues of interethnic relations were discussed in a separate section organized by the Guild of Interethnic Journalism. The participants - members of the jury, winners of "SMIrotvorets" of different years, representatives of regional media - talked about interregional cooperation, discussed cases from their practice and projects that were implemented by the Guild in various regions of the country. Among them are a competition, ethno-expeditions on the banks of the Volga and Lake Baikal, and the School of Interethnic Journalism, where more than 500 students from 23 regions of the country have been trained over 3 years.

- Projects such as the School and ethnoexpeditions are useful for students, young journalists, and already experienced ones. For example, we introduce students to the traditions and culture of peoples, teach them to be attentive to nuances, and to be aware of their responsibility for everything said publicly. This is very important for those who work with words. Well, active, experienced journalists also get the opportunity to get to know their country and each other better. After all, the best way to tell is about what you saw yourself, what you learned and even fell in love with., - believes Maria Andreeva, independent journalist, head of the Voronezh branch of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism.

In the near future there will be one more regional branch of the Guild in the country. Rostov-on-Don will be added to the list of cities where the Guild already operates. The winner in the Print category, Ruslan Melnikov from Rossiyskaya Gazeta-Yug, spoke about his decision to open a Rostov branch at the forum. By the way, for the third year in a row, Ruslan took home the coveted statuette, and all 3 times articles about Kalmykia brought him victory.

Land of the Heroes

However, the ancient land of the Oirats-Kalmyks, its customs and traditions are capable of bewitching anyone. Forum participants were convinced of this from personal experience. One of the days was completely devoted to getting to know the culture, rituals, and cuisine of Kalmykia.

Guests of the republic visited Dzhangariada - the main cultural and sports festival of the republic. The name of the holiday was given in honor of the ancient epic "Dzhangar", which tells about the land of happiness and prosperity and the exploits of warrior-heroes. The sports part of the Dzhangariada was represented by competitions in national sports: horse racing, archery and national wrestling. In terms of intensity of passions and entertainment, it was one of the most vivid impressions of the day.

At the festival, a real Kalmyk hoton (parking lot) was set up from the tents of the regions of the republic. In each tent, guests were greeted with songs, dances and treats, among which a special place rightfully belongs to Kalmyk tea - with milk, butter, salt, nutmeg and bay leaf.

Next to the khoton is the “city of masters”. Original products of Kalmyk artisans and souvenirs with national symbols aroused great interest among the participants of the journalistic forum. Each of the guests took with them a souvenir from Kalmykia. And also - the names and contacts of new friends, plans and ideas for new materials. And good wishes from the forum owners: “Let everything come true! Have a white road!”

- It was my dream to visit Kalmykia, to see these dances with my own eyes, to hear the music and speech of the Oirat brothers., - admits Bairma Radnaeva, journalist of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company "Buryatia", head of the branch of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism in Ulan-Ude. - Buryats and Kalmyks are related peoples, we have the same religion - Buddhism, the same language - we understand each other without a translator, we have a lot in common in traditions and culture, even in the recipes of traditional dishes. I'm happy I visited here. And my colleagues from local television and I have already started working on a joint documentary, I think that it will not be the only project that we will do together.

The All-Russian media competition “SMIrotvorets” for the best coverage of issues of interethnic and ethno-confessional relations has been held since 2008 on the initiative of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism. In 2017 the competition is held Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs within the framework of the implementation of the State Program of the Russian Federation "Implementation of State Ethnic Policy" on the initiative and with the support of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism.

Inna Kabanova