Memory Is Stronger Than Time…

For all those who perished during the years of deportation, for all those who lived through the years of repression, lamps are lit today in every home in Kalmykia…

In the morning, the “Yöräl” prayer service was held at “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.”

As the Head of the Administration of the Central Khurul, Geshe Yonten, noted before the service began, these tragic pages in the history of our people will never be forgotten. “Today the monastic Sangha and all believers pray that this tragedy may never be repeated, pray that all our ancestors may attain a fortunate rebirth, and pray for the well-being of all sentient beings. Thanks to our strong ancestors, who accomplished the greatest feat — they managed to survive, managed to preserve our Republic and rebuild it anew — we, the present generation of the Kalmyk people, live and rejoice! We have those to be proud of and those for whom to continue preserving our culture, our customs, and our faith,” Geshe Yonten especially emphasized in his address.

The Head of the region, Batu Khasikov, took part in the morning prayer service. He noted that our aavas and eejes, our parents, were helped to survive the most difficult years of deportation by faith — faith in a bright future, faith that they would return to their native land, that Kalmykia would flourish again… and so it came to pass!

Although eight decades have already passed since that fateful day, December 28, 1943, the memory lives on, the recollections are alive, and they will remain with our people forever…