Mother Rock

We took a trip to a place called Mother Rock, or Eej Khad. During communism, visiting Mother Rock was a political crime. It was a crime to show respect to any religion. Many people still went in secret to see Mother Rock. Finally in the 1970s, the Russians decided to get rid of Mother Rock once and for all. . They tried to destroy Mother Rock, but couldn’t. They used dynamite and bulldozers. The bulldozers did not work and the next day they were burnt. The official who gave orders to destroy the rock died shortly afterwards and his family became sick. The people involved in trying to destroy it all suffered back luck. Mongolians believe it was payback from Mother Rock.

People visit Mother Rock to ask for advice and seek solace. You are supposed to give offerings of vodka, milk, and khatag (blue silk scarves). When you make a wish, you are supposed to circle the rock three times and make three separate visits.

The rock is dressed up as a woman. It was very cold to the touch despite being very hot out. People circle around her, putting their heads under her arm and kissing the rock. Some people put money and notes in her pockets.

To get to Mother Rock we had to find a taxi that was driving other pilgrims. In Mongolia, every car is a taxi. We got in a cab with a woman and an older man who did not speak at all. The taxi driver and woman were very friendly. It was a long drive down unpaved roads. We were in a Hyundai, so it took a while.

On the way back to Ulaan Baatar we stopped at our drivers friends house. This was interesting. They lived in a yurt. It was very dirty and there were bugs everywhere. They asked us to site on the bed. The family gave us airag and cheese. The milk was served in large bowls. The cheese did not taste the best. It is very hard and strong tasty, slightly sweet. All four of us were sitting on this wobbly bed that was about to break drinking our milk and eating our. Ellen and I were about to move to the floor because the bed was getting really shaky when it broke under us! I spilled my airag (fermented horse milk) everywhere!


An ovoo on the way to Mother Rock.



Mother Rock. She is wearing a dark red robe.


It was so nice to be out of cities and in the beautiful country!


Our taxi. We stopped for a bathroom break halfway through.


The ger town next to Mother Rock. It was mostly resturuants for the pilgrims.


Ellen and our fellow pilgrim.


Stuppas


On the way back to Ulaan Baatar we stopped at some stupas.