The territory of Baikal Lake is located in two regions – Irkutsk Region and Buryat Republic. So as you can guess one of the religions of the legendary lake is a religion of Buryat people – shamanism.

Shamanism is a special form of religious world outlook, which existed even before the appearing of the main world religions. Shamanism is based on communication of shaman, magician or wizard, who is in the state of trance with spirits that inhabit the universe. The word “shaman” originates from Evenk word “saman” that means “excited or frenzied” or “a person in trance”. As for the abilities of shaman, he could be a doctor, heeling people from different diseases, exorcist, avoiding people of imprecation or sending it to them, or even a fortune-teller.

The rites of shamanism are spread in all continents of the earth and are surprisingly similar to each other. In northern Asia the stronghold of shaman traditions and rituals is the region of Baikal Lake and Olkhon Island.

Speaking about traditions of Buryat people in the religion, the peculiarity is that all geographical landmarks are supposed to be sacred. First of all it can be referred to rivers and lakes – Selenga, Onon, Baikal.  

Angara River was respected by shamans. It was a sacred river for them and was believed to have heeling characteristics. According to their beliefs there is a master of the river called Angarain.

Olkhon Island also had a spirit-master - Oikhoni, who had three ghostly palaces and where he together with his 33 helpers judged people or returned soul to sick people or sent it to the other world.

Baikal Lake and even in the surroundings are inhabited with numerous water spirits – ukhan-khady.

It is popularly believed that shamans live on the Earth since the beginning of times. The first was the son of God, who walked down the sky as an eagle. Since that time the reverence of the eagle is spread not only among shamans, but in the whole Siberia.

During his life a shaman passed several steps of initiation into shamanism. It is thought to be 9 steps. Shamans of last steps have a magic ability to move freely between the world of people and the world of Gods, can provoke snowstorms, hurricanes and heavy showers and they can be present in two places at one and the same time. You can believe it or not, but they could even fly!

Now shaman traditions and beliefs have found a new life – new shamans appear who recollect teachings of their ancestors. Practically in every village there is a working shaman. As it was already mentioned, the centre of shamanism in Baikal is Olkhon Island. There are many religious places devoted to shamans there – cape Burkhan, cape Khoboy, and Tazheranskaya steppe. In 1990 in Olkhon Island there was the first public church service where all the shamans of the Ireland took place. Since that time they gather every year to honor the spirits.