I congratulate the citizens of the Republic of Kalmykia, my dear fellow countrymen, on the beginning of the sacred month for the Kalmyks – Ur Sar! In this blessed month, any spiritual practice or good deed brings karmic merit, which is one hundred thousand times greater than in other months of the year.

Ur Sar (Saga Dawa) celebrates Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. According to the lunar calendar, this month is especially favourable for spiritual practice. Impact of deeds made in this period increase by a hundred thousand times. The Buddha's birthday is the culmination day of the sacred month; it falls on the 15th lunar day (in the current year it falls on May 29).