"A lot of far-fetched stuff may be happening here precisely because of a fear of the incomprehensible, the inexplicable. There's a kind of, well, psychological defense mechanism. It's very ancient, when, well, we begin to blame everything that happens on something alien, foreign, or mystical. This is why Mansi were suspected at the time. Well, thank God, now this theory doesn't seem to be true—that the Mansi people found something there, that they participated. As a representative of a northern people, I can say that if this place is truly sacred, then no one will kill anyone there, because that would be an even more serious desecration of a sacred place."
Sardana Avksentieva, State Duma of the Russian Federation Deputy
«Здесь может быть много надуманного происходит как раз из-за а страха перед непонятным, перед необъяснимым. Есть вообще такая как бы, ну, психологическая защита. Это очень древняя, когда, а, во всех происшествиях мы начинаем винить что-то чужеродное, инородное, чужое. Именно поэтому Манси тогда и подозревали. Ну, слава богу, сейчас как бы эта версия не рас народ манси там что-то нашёл, что там участвовал. Я вот как представитель как представитель северного народа могу сказать, что если действительно это место святое, то никто никого там убивать не будет, потому что это еще более тяжкое осквернение святого места.»
Сардана Авксентьева, Депутат ГД РФ
"In a Country of Mysterious Signs"
The elder sister, Kaltesh the Golden,
Goes to the courtyard, lets down her braids -
Through one mouth, seven Obs flow,
Through one mouth, seven seas rise.
From her braids, the day does dawn,
From her braids rises the moon.
In a birch-tree behind the house -
Golden her leaves, her branches of gold -
Sit seven cuckoos with golden wings,
Golden their tails;
Seven days they sing,
Seven nights they sing.
There is no end of joy
Neither by night nor day;
Such is their song - like to
Silver coins falling from their mouths;
Such is their song - like to
Gold coins falling from their mouths.
Everywhere in the world
Poorly shod, poorly garbed people
All live through their song
Survive till our day.
These are Mansi from Vizhay area. Most of their names are Anyamov and Bahtiyarov, since the whole clan carries the same family name. These photos are from Vladimir and Lidiya Androsov's collection "My friends – the Mansi" (Alternative site: Part 1 and Part 2)
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