Olga Budzhalova, about matsg, or fasting, rituals

Matsg is a ritual performed by a group of elderly women. These rituals were known to have been carried out not only in Soviet times but also in pre-revolutionary Kalmykia. Olga says that old women performed matsg rituals three times a month. In her village, it was usually performed at Olga’s house, for her mother was blind and could not leave the house. The ritual consisted of reading prayers together by the women. Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwi