SIBERIAN BUDDHISTS MARK NEW YEAR WITH CELEBRATIONS








IRKUTSK. /From RIA Novosti correspondent Alexander Batalin/. On 3 March, the Buryat ethnic community centre in Irkutsk (the capital city of the Irkutsk Region) holds celebrations marking the start of the New Year by the Buddhist calendar. The local musical theatre will host a concert featuring prominent Buryat singers, dancers and musicians. They will perform national songs, dances and traditional season's rituals. 


	The Mongolic-speaking nations marked the start of the new lunar year, the Year of the White Iron Snake, on 24 February. The New White Moon celebrations will be going on until mid-March. As prompted by the holiday's name, during this period the creed's protagonists give preference to the so-called "white food" based on the milk diet. Similar to the Orthodox Lenten, this diet is supposed to purify and strengthen each follower's body, whereas the centuries-old traditional rites and rituals are to fortify his spirit.