The Mari religion centers on believers' connections to nature, with rituals taking place in sacred forest groves. RFE/RL photographer Sergey Peteryaev asked Mari women to pose in traditional dress and describe their impressions of Mari identity, language, and faith.
Dancing And Sacred Groves: What Does It Mean To Be Mari?
The Mari El Republic in central Russia is home to the Mari people, an ethnic minority that proudly preserves its traditions. Sometimes described as "Europe's last pagans," locals speak a Finno-Ugric language and observe pre-Christian rituals, although some also follow the Russian Orthodox faith.
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Vera Nikolayeva, 31, music teacher. "I visit the sacred groves, but not often, as I currently live in the city. I am proud to be Mari and can even call myself a bit of a nationalist. I don’t like it when people don’t even try to learn the Mari language, especially now that it’s stopped being unfashionable, as it was in the 1990s. When I go out in the woods, I don’t even have to say anything: it’s all so pure and clear."