Ethnic groups of Russia: Altaians

The Altaians are a Turkic indigenous people of Altai. Approximately 78,000 live in Russia, the majority of whom live in the Altai Republic. They’re most closely related to the Khakass, Tuvan and Kyrgyz ethnic groups.

Most Altai people practice Burkhanism or the White Faith, which originated in the Altai Mountains in the early 20th century and includes elements of Tengrism, shamanism, Buddhism and local animistic beliefs.

The main national holiday in the Altai Republic is ‘El-Oiyn’, which translates as ‘national holiday’. Every two years, Altaians gather to compete, listen to folklore performances and visit exhibitions of folk arts and crafts.

Altai people eat ‘kocho’, a thick soup made from meat broth and barley and ‘kan’, a blood sausage made from fresh ram's blood. They also drink ‘chegen’, a fermented milk drink. For dessert, they prefer ‘tok-chok’, made from barley flour and honey.