In the early 1990s there were only a handful of shamans in Mongolia as the country was tearing its ties to the Soviet Union and ending decades of religious and cultural repression. Nowadays they are over an estimated dozen thousands and many more practice this religious tradition older but deeply intertwined with Tibetan Buddhism. Shamanism has become both a booming business and a way for Mongolians to reconnect with their past and forge a new identity after decades under Soviet influence.

The shaman Uuganbayar possessed by his spirit Tsagaday is getting into a trance during a shamanic celebration of spring. 
A woman throwing bits of cake to the sky, as an offering to Tenger, the main spirit of shamanic practices.   Shamanism is a worship of nature and the spirits that rule mountains, rivers and the sky.
Participants to a shamanic celebration of spring have placed offerings of cake sweets, milk and vodka on an altar as offering to a sacred tree believed to have strong powers.
Pilgrims who have come to attend a celebration of spring at the "Mother tree", a symbol of eternity, are hanging khatas (ceremonial piece of cloth) as offerings. 
During a celebration of spring, in northern Mongolia, shamans have made a circle around the "mother tree" and throwing vodka at, it as an offering. Decades of this practice have killed the tree.
Pilgrims who have come to attend a shamanic celebration of spring in northern Mongolia, kneeling palms open to the sky in front of the "mother tree" a symbol of eternity believed to have special powers. 
A pilgrim embracing a khata tied to the "mother tree". She whispers wishes that she believes the tree will grant. Other pilgrims have folded bank notes onto the trunk as offering.
A pilgrim, his palms opened to the sky, a pilgrim in prayer seeking the blessing from the "mother tree" spirit. 
Pilgrims lining up in front of a shaman, master of ceremony at a celebration of spring, waiting to be blessed. Shamans work as mediators between the spirits and human beings and are believed to hold powers such as healing.
Shamans have gathered in circle around a wood fire, beating sheepskin drums to call the spirits during a celebration of spring in northern Mongolia. 
During a celebration of spring a shaman chanting his palms opened to the sky in front of a fire. Fire is a key element of shamanic rituals, it belongs to the arch of the sky and symbolises the sun. Some say the avent of shamanic rituals coincid
Near the "mother tree", a shaman dressed with wolf skins, is getting into a trance, connecting with his spirit, as fellow shamans beat their drum. Pilgrims have fed the fire with lamb ribs wrapped in  a green khata enclosing handwritten notes o
An assistant is lighting a pipe filled with tobacco for a shaman wearing a coat made of wolf skin. Before and during the trance shamans smoke tobacco and drink vodka. The adoration of flora and fauna is essential to shamanism and certain animals are
A shaman wearing a hat adorned with an eagle head. In the shamanist belief, animals have souls and they reincarnate themselves.
A stuffed eagle placed atop the ger (Mongolian tent) of the Centre for Shamanic Eternal Heavenly Sophistication where a renown shaman used to practice before his accidental death. Eagles are closely associated with Mongolian shamanic traditions and
An altar in the prayer room of master shaman Byambadorj with a portrait of Genghis Khan on the wall. At the right of the altar stands a frame picture of Byambadorj with former Mongolia president Nambar Enkhbayar (3rd from left) and Badmaanyambuu Bat
Outside the Centre for Shamanic Eternal Heavenly Sophistication, where a renown shaman used to practice before his accidental death, a shamanic statue and a sulde (black flag pole). Many of such centres have appeared in Ulaan Baatar since the 9
Two women in the waiting room of Byambadorj's home, waiting  for an audience with the master shaman. Across from them a menu of the shaman services has been posted on the wall : from curing health problems, to removing or casting curses, i
A woman visiting master shaman Byambadorj for his healing powers. When connected with their spirit shamans are believed to possess a wide-ranging array of powers, from curing health problems, to removing or casting curses, including fortune telling.
Tugsuu an ethnic Mongol from China kneeling in prayers at an ovoo in the courtyard of master shaman Byambadorj. Tugsuu has come to Ulaanbaatar to be initiated as a shaman.  Many Chinese and Russians, a few Westerners as well, come to Mongolia t
Suhe and Tugsuu, ethnic Mongols from China preparing to get in a trance at the home of master shaman Byambadorj under the guidance of his daughter Enkhoyun (left). Tugsuu and Suhe have come to Ulaanbaatar to be initiated as shamans. The call to
Enkhoyun, daughter of master shaman Byambadorj, helping Suhe, a novice shaman from China, as he is getting into a trance. 
Enkhoyun, daughter of master shaman Byambadorj, waving juniper smoke to the face of Tugsuu a novice shaman, to help him getting into a trance.  Juniper smoke, very mildly hallucinogenic, is systematically used in shamanaic ceremonies.
Suhe a novice shaman throwing vodka at an ovoo in the courtyard of master shaman Byambadorj. 
A wooden ovoo adorned with blue khatas at sunset in the Mongolian grassland. Ovvo are shamanic shrines usually situated along roads or on top of mountains and used by mongols to pay they respects to the spirits by walking around them and throwing vo
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