Festival as a Diaspora Cultural Network: a Focus on the Buryat Altargana

Abstract

The primary dwelling for the Buryat diaspora resides within Mongolia and China's Inner Mongolia. The emergence of the Buryat diaspora can be traced back to the migration of Buryats seeking refuge from Soviet authority during the Civil War that followed the Socialist Revolution, along with the escalating political persecution during the 1930s. As stringent border controls were imposed in the 1930s, and sustained political repression targeted counter-revolutionaries and their families within the Soviet Union and the diaspora's new host countries, interactions between the Buryat diaspora and mainland Buryats remained relatively limited. The Buryat diaspora has undergone a process of assimilation within their respective countries of residence, and has long been detached from their ancestral homeland, nonetheless, it still retains certain aspects of its original traditions and customs. Mongolia's Buryat diaspora embarked on a mission to revive the Altargana Festival from historical memory. The Altargana Festival featured Buryat folk songs and traditional sporting events, naturally fostering a sense of shared identity and encouraging its expression both within and outside the community. This festival garnered significant response and support among the Buryat diaspora, gradually extending its influence to the wider Buryat community beyond Mongolia. What sets Altargana apart is that it is not led by the compatriots in Russia or organized by the government (of Burytia), but rather initiated by a small diaspora community, ultimately evolving into an international event. Altargana, which has been restored from tradition, perhaps now more appropriately described as created, is gradually changing. Altargana goes beyond a simple festival and serves as a cultural network that connects the Buryat diaspora.