The Mordovian candle - SHTATOL

Shtatol is the mordovian ritual wax candle. This artefact is exposed in the centre of the traditional culture in the village Tatarskoe (Nizhniy Novgorod oblast). It should be casted in advance for the holiday, the wax for its production is purchased from donations of participants of the sacral ceremony - this is the main relic. Shtatol's litted by candles from the tribal areas, where is the prayer (such candle is called Buen Shtatol), and that, in turn, is lignited from the flame of fire where cooked ritual food. While lighting the first fire, a prayer is addressed to the deity - patroness of fire Tolave.