Ovoos

Ovoos are sites that are older than Buddhism and Shamanism. They are huge piles of rocks with a stick covered in blue silk scarves. Ovoos are usually found on hilltops. Chinggis Khaan is said to have left offerings at ovoos and make wishes. The offerings are usually vodka, milk and rice. You are supposed to circle clockwise around the ovoos three times to pay gratitude to the spirits and ancestors who protect the land. If you do this, you will have good luck.

The blue scarves are supposed to represent the sky. Sky worship is a very important part of Mongolian Shamanism. Shamanism has been an important factor affecting Mongolia’s development. Infrastructure has been affected by the shamanistic rule that land should not be dug or torn up. When nomads move their ger camps, they fill in all of the holes they made.



Here I am offering vodka at an ovoo in the Gobi.


This was an offering left at an ovoo.


An ovoo in Shambhala, an energy site in the Gobi.


Ovoo