Spring rite

A Darhad people hosts the sacrifice offering ceremony in the palace.

A public sacrifice ceremony began at 9 am. Eighty-one Darhad people sang the odes to honor their Emperor Lord.

Ushers wearing traditional Mongol warrior's arming wear led representatives from all nine districts and banners in Ordos, brought roast lamb and spirit (liquor) to present to the main building. A Darhad people's band blew conches and beat gongs, which made the atmosphere very solemn.

After that, the crowd circled clockwise around a shamanistic cairn called Gandeer Oboo to spread milk to honor the heaven, which is the climax of the ceremony. An old man sprinkled milk tea among the crowd to bless the pilgrims. It is said this tradition dated back to the time when Genghis Khan was alive.

I was really flattered when he walked toward me and dripped some liquid on my head.

The pilgrims also bowed in front of a white sacred horse to make wishes.

After a quick lunch, I went back to the mausoleum to witness another big sacrifice in the palace, which was supposed to begin at 3 pm.

I regretted not catching the detailed process of splendid and complicated rituals. By the time I was there, two men were singing a long paragraph of ballad using an unidentified ancient language, which is commonly called "the song of heaven".

People became a little restless when it was time to offer sacrifice. Everyone wanted to be the first to step into the palace, but the anxiety didn't last long. Within seconds, order returned like there were some unseen power which managed to calm them down.

When the ritual ended at 4:30 pm, all Darhad priests immediately returned to the palace and closed the door, leaving a strong mystic aura.