Genghis Khan ritesattract thousands
Source: Xinhua |
May 6, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
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TENS of thousands of people from home and abroad have flocked to the annual memorial rites honoring Genghis Khan, the 13th-century warrior who founded the Mongol Empire.
The eight-day event began on Tuesday in Ejin Horo Banner, in the Ordos Highlands of northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the first day attracted 30,000 people including locals of the Mongolian ethnic group and tourists from outside Inner Mongolia, said Yamutede, who officiated at the ceremony.
Yamutede descends from one of the 500 Dalhut families who have protected Genghis Khan's memorial for more than 700 years.
"We keep the lamps alight and make fresh sacrifices for the master. Thousands of Mongolians and tourists make long journeys to come here for the annual rites," Yamutede said.
On Tuesday, the 50,000-square meter parking lot in front of the mausoleum was full.
Hurichabatu, a Mongolian from the Xinlingol Grasslands in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, and his family of four made a 20-hour train journey to attend the rites.
"I brought sacrifices of liquor, brick tea, milk and lamb," he said before turning to pray and dabbing his forehead with liquor.
Wearing a traditional Mongolian robe and with a dozen of her friends, Tegus came from Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia.
"Mongolia also holds memorial rites to honor Genghis Khan, but I've heard the one held in China's Ordos is very ceremonious, and I wanted to experience the culture and worship the Mongolian ancestor here," she said.
Local legend has it that during one of his crusades about 800 years ago, Genghis Khan was impressed by the grasslands and forests in Ordos and said on his death he wanted to be buried there.
Soldiers accompanying him did not take his words seriously, but when the wagon carrying his body passed through the place, one of its wheels got stuck and could not be pulled free.
In partial observance of his wishes, the soldiers buried some of his clothing here. The trick seemed to work, as the wheel could be pulled free.
Although the memorial was built more than 300 years ago on the outskirts of Ordos, it's not the burial site of Genghis Khan; it only has some of his clothes and personal items. The Khan's real burial site has never been found.
The eight-day event began on Tuesday in Ejin Horo Banner, in the Ordos Highlands of northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the first day attracted 30,000 people including locals of the Mongolian ethnic group and tourists from outside Inner Mongolia, said Yamutede, who officiated at the ceremony.
Yamutede descends from one of the 500 Dalhut families who have protected Genghis Khan's memorial for more than 700 years.
"We keep the lamps alight and make fresh sacrifices for the master. Thousands of Mongolians and tourists make long journeys to come here for the annual rites," Yamutede said.
On Tuesday, the 50,000-square meter parking lot in front of the mausoleum was full.
Hurichabatu, a Mongolian from the Xinlingol Grasslands in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, and his family of four made a 20-hour train journey to attend the rites.
"I brought sacrifices of liquor, brick tea, milk and lamb," he said before turning to pray and dabbing his forehead with liquor.
Wearing a traditional Mongolian robe and with a dozen of her friends, Tegus came from Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia.
"Mongolia also holds memorial rites to honor Genghis Khan, but I've heard the one held in China's Ordos is very ceremonious, and I wanted to experience the culture and worship the Mongolian ancestor here," she said.
Local legend has it that during one of his crusades about 800 years ago, Genghis Khan was impressed by the grasslands and forests in Ordos and said on his death he wanted to be buried there.
Soldiers accompanying him did not take his words seriously, but when the wagon carrying his body passed through the place, one of its wheels got stuck and could not be pulled free.
In partial observance of his wishes, the soldiers buried some of his clothing here. The trick seemed to work, as the wheel could be pulled free.
Although the memorial was built more than 300 years ago on the outskirts of Ordos, it's not the burial site of Genghis Khan; it only has some of his clothes and personal items. The Khan's real burial site has never been found.
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