Soul of Tengri: A Demonstration of Traditional Kazakh Rituals

For more than 5,000 years, Kazakh nomads worshipped Tengri, an all-encompassing god and a personification of the universe. In a demonstration of Tengrian traditions, textile artist Azhar Altynsaka opened the “Soul of Tengri” pop-up program at the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival with rituals to cleanse spaces, greet spirits, and protect people and animals from disease. Learn more about the program: s.si.edu/SoulOfTengri Camera: Nadya Ellerhorst, Eve Moore Editing: Nadya Ellerhorst [Catalog No. CFV11719; © Smithsonian Institution, 2024]