Buriat, Russian in Kazakhstan

People Name:	Buriat, Russian
Country:	Kazakhstan
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	700
World Population:	461,400
Primary Language:	Buriat, Russia
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	12.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.80 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Mongolian
Affinity Bloc:	East Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Buriat people are thought to be descended from Mongols who moved north to escape the rule of the Mongol empire, as there is a similarity in features and language.

Today the Buriats have incorporated Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese elements into their own culture. Russians arrived in Siberia in the 17th century and did little to destroy the culture until the 20th century when the introduced communism. A large percentage of Buriat people live in the lowlands along the Russia-Mongolia border. Because they were once part of the USSR, some Russian Buriats migrated to other Soviet Socialist Republics such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. They are small minorities in those two countries, but they share a similar culture as Kazakhs.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today, colorful Buriat clothing of bright blue, red, green and orange silks and brocades is only used for festivals. They usually wear standard Western clothing including shawls and felt hats.

Like other Mongolian people, Buriat people eat mainly mutton, airag (fermented mare's milk), yogurt and cheese, sausages, and a flour dough cooked in butter. Formerly, they ate with fingers or chopsticks, but today, they eat with Western tableware.

Buriat society was founded on the clan or lineage, and a man's home, his political position, inheritance, and status were largely determined by his clan membership. Traditionally, marriages were arranged by parents, forming alliances between clans, since members could not marry within their own lineage. A man could once obtain a bride by abduction, with or without her consent. Today, most marriages are initiated by the couples, themselves. Buriat people love music, folk dances, chess and sporting events.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In 1818, the first Protestant missionary began work among the Buriat people. The work lasted 22 years. After that time, the laborers were few. Buriat people are now Siberia's largest Buddhist group. Those residing east of Lake Baikal are devout followers of the Dalai Lama. They are "lamanistic" Buddhists, although they include some aspects of their old Shamanistic heritage. They have much more of an Asian influence. Buriat people west of Lake Baikal have had more of a Russian influence.

They practice a Shamanistic religion called Burkhanism. They are preoccupied with the spirit world; they call monks and lamas to alleviate evil spirits through divination and oracles, sorcery, mediums and astrology. One can obtain merit by spinning prayer wheels, reciting mantras, and daily walks around shrines. In a Tibetan Buddhist "scapegoat ritual," the sins and misfortunes of one individual or community are placed upon an image of dough, which is then thrown away in some wild or uninhabited area. Occasionally, a domestic animal (often a goat) is selected, symbolically laden with guilt, and sent out to be killed by whoever finds it. This analogy is a cultural bridge that can be used to introduce the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

What Are Their Needs?

In the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Buriats have been reported as one of Russia's ethnic minority groups suffering from a disproportionally large casualty rate among Russian forces, reinforcing the processes of assimilation and Russification. Ethnic Buriats often enlist in the army because of financial reasons.

Prayer Points

Pray the Buriat people will be given a growing hunger to know truth, Jesus is the personification of truth.
Pray for Buriat leaders in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to have the spiritual hunger it takes to embrace Christ no matter what the cost.
Pray for a growing movement to Christ among Buriats.