Mongolian Seterlekh Ceremony

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The seterlekh ceremony is an anti-sacrifice, where an individual animal is liberated from being killed for meat. A blue sash signifies that a seter, or sacred animal, has been dedicated to the eternal sky. The golden-robed lama in this sequence had previously indicated to the herding family that the holy animal was to be a female yak (or sarlag) that was young and dark in coat colour. Only Buddhist monks who have studied specific Tibetan Buddhist texts are allowed to conduct such a ceremony. The herder is asked to speak directly to the cow, making a verbal pact that the family will not kill her and that she must aid as protector. Under everyday circumstances herders do not speak to individual herd animals in Mongolian but use calls and commands specific to the kind of animal. Because this individual has greater power than the average yak cow, it is assumed that she will understand her instructions. The individual cow then functions as protector of both the family and the rest of the herd.

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2015-10-25