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Photograph: Images of home deities - patrons of home and hosts. Nanais

Title:

Photograph: Images of home deities - patrons of home and hosts

Ethnic groups:

Nanais

Territory:

Far East Krai, Nikolaevsky Okrug

Date:

1927

Collectors-person:
Photographer:
Shneider E.R.
Dimensions:

11,2 x 8,4

Number:

РЭМ 4700-97

Ethnical annotation:

According to the beliefs of the Nanais, the images of household deities (“dulu”) conveyed prayers to the supreme deities, they never harmed a person, but could refuse to help. Therefore, they were necessarily fed before or after significant events. The images were photograped immediately after feeding: in front of them is a plate of porridge, which is smeared on the mouths of the spirits. Similar images were made by the Nanais themselves to each other, while the shaman determined whether the spirit entered them or not.