Исход и Возвращение, Memorial monument in Elista, Russia.
The Exodus and Return is a memorial monument in Elista featuring symbolic bronze elements: a horse form representing time, a weeping lamb embodying endurance, and a lotus with an embryo. The memorial grounds include an authentic railway car on tracks, granite pillars, and marble plaques inscribed with details about the deportation years.
The memorial marks the deportation of Kalmyk people to Siberia that occurred between 1943 and 1957 under Stalin's regime, with fourteen granite pillars representing each year of exile. This dark period in Soviet history is preserved through the monument's physical structure and inscribed details.
The spiral path approaching the monument reflects Buddhist traditions of temple circumambulation, tying the memorial to Kalmyk spiritual practices. Visitors walk this route as a way to show respect and connect with the region's religious customs.
The site is accessible on foot with a clear spiral path guiding visitors toward the main monument. Allow time to explore the various elements and read the inscriptions to understand the full meaning of the memorial.
Buried beneath the monument is a capsule containing soil from multiple locations where Kalmyk people were exiled during their deportation. This hidden element connects the memorial to the distant places of dispersal.
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