The Spring Tailagan is a blessing ceremony that opens the gates to heaven. It was held at the Verkhne Beriozovke Hippodrome on May 21, 2005. A sheep is sacrificed to procure blessings and then the shamans go into trance so that people can ask the deities questions. The photos were taken with the permission of the organizing society - the Tengeri Buryat Shaman's Association. For more information about Tengeri go to: http://www.tengeri.buryatia.ru