Kinship

Traditionally, kinship played an important role in sustaining daily lives of the Kalmyk society by regulating inter-group politics, marriage, inheritance, rules of conduct and many other institutions. Clan and family genealogies, alliances and identities were enacted and reinforced through various clan rituals, story telling, as well as through rituals related to life cycles that entailed the participation of clan and family members. Since the first half of the 20th century kinship structures, however, have been undermined by processes of modernity and are gradually eroding. On this page you can view rituals and kinship practices and access traditional knowledge that are cornerstones of Kalmyk kinship.