TURA KNOWS EVERYTHING

One of Russia’s oldest indigenous peoples, the Chuvash, live in the Volga region, in the Chuvash Republic. Prior to the forced Christianization and Russification of the Chauvish in the 17th century at the hands of the Russian state, the Chuvash adhered to a traditional pagan faith. Christianization took many forms for the Chuvash. The civil rights of unbaptized Chuvash were reduced and those who performed pagan rituals were subject to legal punishment. Some of the Chuvash retained their faith by leaving their ancestral lands, hiding from oppression in remote towns and villages. One of the regions where the Chuvash people migrated was the Samara region; in particular the village of Starogankino. Starogankino has a population of 715 according to a recent census. Of these, 50-60 people remain who follow the traditional Chuvash faith. Over time, there are even fewer of them, and the younger generation leaves these places and moves to the cities. Unbaptized Chuvash people do not have their own religious books and written commandments. These prayers and rituals are kept only in their memory, passing in oral tradition on to the next generations by word of mouth.

The supreme god of the unbaptized Chuvash is Tura, meaning “Great, Big God”, and his younger brother Shuittan, a Satan-esque figure who opposes him. Besides these two, there are many other gods and spirits. The Chuvash believed that all life in this world has its own spirit, gathered in sacred places for collective prayers for rain and harvest. Over time, some of the rituals and religious holidays of the Chuvash pagans in Starogankino have disappeared to the annals of time. Gradually some Chuvash were baptized while another small part of the population converted to Islam. But despite the processes that influenced the preservation of the traditional Chuvash faith, the remaining unbaptized Chuvash of Starogankino continue to carry out burial rites and commemoration of their ancestors. Traces of the ancient faith are present in everyday life in the form of rites and beliefs, such as the ‘evil eye’  or warding against disease.  

Irina Mikhailovna Moskina in the local cultural center, where the ensemble “Telei” are, performing Chuvash songs. Irina Mikhailovna is wearing traditional Chuvash attire for a married woman. The dress of the costume is the oldest in the village. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Irina Mikhailovna Moskina in the local cultural center, where the ensemble “Telei” are, performing Chuvash songs. Irina Mikhailovna is wearing traditional Chuvash attire for a married woman. The dress of the costume is the oldest in the village. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
The grave of an unbaptized Chuvash at the Starogankinskaya cemetery of unbaptized Chuvash. The grave has a traditional Yup tombstone made of oak. The pillar was placed with the root part up, because for a dead person, the world turned upside down. The sky became his home. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
The grave of an unbaptized Chuvash at the Starogankinskaya cemetery of unbaptized Chuvash. The grave has a traditional Yup tombstone made of oak. The pillar was placed with the root part up, because for a dead person, the world turned upside down. The sky became his home. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Lidiya Viktorovna Molyanova in the courtyard of her house. Lidia Viktorovna is wearing her traditional Chuvash apparel. There are old antique coins from the early 20th century on the married woman's headdress (khushpu) and breast decoration. This clothing was passed down to Lydia Viktorovna from her grandmother. Lidia Viktorovna is the keeper of traditional Chuvash rituals. When a person dies in the village, local residents turn to her to prepare for the burial rite. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Lidiya Viktorovna Molyanova in the courtyard of her house. Lidia Viktorovna is wearing her traditional Chuvash apparel. There are old antique coins from the early 20th century on the married woman's headdress (khushpu) and breast decoration. This clothing was passed down to Lydia Viktorovna from her grandmother. Lidia Viktorovna is the keeper of traditional Chuvash rituals. When a person dies in the village, local residents turn to her to prepare for the burial rite. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Residents of the village and members of the ensemble “Telei” in the house of culture rehearsing for an upcoming local concert of traditional Chuvash songs. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Residents of the village and members of the ensemble “Telei” in the house of culture rehearsing for an upcoming local concert of traditional Chuvash songs. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
A photo from the archive of Mikhail Molyanov, the founder of the Starogankinsky Museum of Local Lore. In the photo, residents of the neighboring village of Malogankino Ivan Petrovich Molyanov with his wife and child in 1938. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
A photo from the archive of Mikhail Molyanov, the founder of the Starogankinsky Museum of Local Lore. In the photo, residents of the neighboring village of Malogankino Ivan Petrovich Molyanov with his wife and child in 1938. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Local history museum, collected by local resident Mikhail Molyanov. The museum stores exhibits from the times of the USSR, as well as the local heritage of Chuvash culture. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Local history museum, collected by local resident Mikhail Molyanov. The museum stores exhibits from the times of the USSR, as well as the local heritage of Chuvash culture. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Lidia Viktorovna Molyanova, in the kitchen of her house, shows the process of making candles for the Chuvash burial rite. On the night when a person dies, women begin preparing for the funeral rite. One woman melts wax, and the other rolls out the candles. According to traditional belief, the death of a person is perceived as the transition of the soul to the afterlife. It acts as a continuation of earthly life. Unbaptized Chuvash use candles to illuminate the next world for the deceased. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Lidia Viktorovna Molyanova, in the kitchen of her house, shows the process of making candles for the Chuvash burial rite. On the night when a person dies, women begin preparing for the funeral rite. One woman melts wax, and the other rolls out the candles. According to traditional belief, the death of a person is perceived as the transition of the soul to the afterlife. It acts as a continuation of earthly life. Unbaptized Chuvash use candles to illuminate the next world for the deceased. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
A ravine near the village of Starogankino, the site of the Keremet, where religious holidays and sacrifices were held. Keremet was forced to be closed during Soviet times. At the Keremet it was forbidden to cut down trees and take away any sacrificial items (precious coins, jewelry), as the spirits punished people for this. According to local residents once, treasure hunters came to Keremet to find valuable coins and take them away, but later they fell ill. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
A ravine near the village of Starogankino, the site of the Keremet, where religious holidays and sacrifices were held. Keremet was forced to be closed during Soviet times. At the Keremet it was forbidden to cut down trees and take away any sacrificial items (precious coins, jewelry), as the spirits punished people for this. According to local residents once, treasure hunters came to Keremet to find valuable coins and take them away, but later they fell ill. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Women attach a wool yarn to the traditional Chuvash spinning wheel. Elena Mishutkina (on the left) got the spinning wheel from her mother, which is still being used in everyday life. The village of Sirmabus (a part of the rural settlement of Starogankino), Samara region, December 2023.
Women attach a wool yarn to the traditional Chuvash spinning wheel. Elena Mishutkina (on the left) got the spinning wheel from her mother, which is still being used in everyday life. The village of Sirmabus (a part of the rural settlement of Starogankino), Samara region, December 2023.
Ancient Chuvash embroidery on the window of the local history museum of the village. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Ancient Chuvash embroidery on the window of the local history museum of the village. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Local residents in the cultural center illustrate the process of putting on a traditional Chuvash women's costume. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Local residents in the cultural center illustrate the process of putting on a traditional Chuvash women's costume. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
A traditional female breast ornament belonging to Lidia Viktorovna Molyanova. The decoration passed to her from her grandmother. The symbol of the genus is depicted in the central part. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023
A traditional female breast ornament belonging to Lidia Viktorovna Molyanova. The decoration passed to her from her grandmother. The symbol of the genus is depicted in the central part. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023
Сemetery of unbaptized Chuvash. Traditional gravestones - yupa - are installed on the graves. Yupa represents the image of a deceased person. As a rule, the pillar was made of wood, and various signs and symbols were applied to it. Nowadays, photographs and plaques with the names of the deceased are also added to the yupa. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Сemetery of unbaptized Chuvash. Traditional gravestones - yupa - are installed on the graves. Yupa represents the image of a deceased person. As a rule, the pillar was made of wood, and various signs and symbols were applied to it. Nowadays, photographs and plaques with the names of the deceased are also added to the yupa. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
The image of a Chuvash woman at a spinning wheel. The exhibit is in the museum of the local House of Culture. The museum is assembled from the personal belongings of the villagers. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023
The image of a Chuvash woman at a spinning wheel. The exhibit is in the museum of the local House of Culture. The museum is assembled from the personal belongings of the villagers. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023
Local resident, Irina Konstantinovna Piderzhanova, in the Starogankinsky House of Culture. Irina Konstantinovna is wearing a traditional Chuvash costume, her head is decorated with a tukhya - a girl’s headdress. The costume is kept in the collection of the local cultural center. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Local resident, Irina Konstantinovna Piderzhanova, in the Starogankinsky House of Culture. Irina Konstantinovna is wearing a traditional Chuvash costume, her head is decorated with a tukhya - a girl’s headdress. The costume is kept in the collection of the local cultural center. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Chuvash traditional belt bandage (Sară) from the collection of Chuvash costumes in the local cultural center. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Chuvash traditional belt bandage (Sară) from the collection of Chuvash costumes in the local cultural center. Starogankino village, Samara region, December 2023.
Local residents of the village of Sirmabus, Sergei Savkovich Elin and Zinaida Savelyevna Elina, in their living room. The village of Sirmabus (a part of the rural settlement of Starogankino), Samara region, December 2023.
Local residents of the village of Sirmabus, Sergei Savkovich Elin and Zinaida Savelyevna Elina, in their living room. The village of Sirmabus (a part of the rural settlement of Starogankino), Samara region, December 2023.
Light from a window in a house in the village of Starogankino, Samara region, December 2023
Light from a window in a house in the village of Starogankino, Samara region, December 2023
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