The country had temples with golden idols throughout the land until the communists took over and purged most of the religion and physical manifestations thereof. Most monasteries were destroyed, but this one, in Ulaanbaatar, by the protests of the people, was spared.
It consists of numerous colourful buildings, prayer wheel walls, and a large temple as the main site of worship. This consists of incense-burning, lighted candles, giving of money, and turning of prayer wheels. These are metal drums on which are written prayers in Tibetan (from which this branch of the religion originated, and which language the Mongolians don't know, so can't read), so the turning of the wheels is said to deliver the prayers the same as if one would say them.
A Guardian with offerings of curd |
Many prayer wheels |
The main temple has a 326 meter gold covered high female statue (no photos allowed of course) surrounded on the perimeter of the building by 1000 small statuettes dressed in brocade robes and crowns, in front of which people place money for the granting of wishes.
This temple is one large open space inside to accommodate the huge statue |
Some mission work had been carried out, carefully, by guest teachers who come to teach English shortly after the country opened, but now with ubiquitous social media, most teaching is of American pop culture.
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