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The Everyday Life Of Reindeer People Living In Mongolia

Through his photos of the nomadic Dukha people in northern Mongolia, photographer and scholar Hamid Sardar-Afkhami gives us an unprecedented look into the everyday lives of a people that rely on herds of migrating reindeer for their day-to-day existence.

The Dukha people domesticate reindeer, riding them, breeding them and using them for milk, cheese and fur. Unfortunately, their way of life is dying out as both their populations and the sizes of the reindeer herds diminish. Estimates of the Dukha population range between 200 and 400 individuals. Today, their primary source of income is the tourists that come to buy their crafts and ride their reindeer.

With a Ph. D. in Sanskrit and Tibetan Studies from Harvard, Sardar-Afkhami was the perfect person to document the Dukha way of life before it disappears. In addition to these photos, he also created a documentary film about the Dukha called The Reindeer People.

More info: hamidsardarphoto.com (h/t: mymodernmet)

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231Kviews

There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw

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What do you think ?

POST

HeatherFassett 9 years ago

amazing and beautiful

28points

ArjandeRuijter 9 years ago

Wow how beautiful!? Would love to travel to Mongolia on one of my adventures. - My adventures so far: http://www.arjanderuijter.com

-3points

Load More Replies...

media 9 years ago

Awesome people

8points

AndreaSmith 9 years ago

Amazing! I would love to spend sometime with them learning their ways!

7points

bubamara 9 years ago

Almost surreal, so much beauty and diversity....

6points

MarissaCiubal 9 years ago

Extraordinary......WOW!!!!!

4points

mcurse 9 years ago

Wonderful pictures I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing Dovas :)

2points

pammo 9 years ago

Wow

2points

VũHoàn 9 years ago

awesome xD

2points

Pamela 9 years ago

We must respect wonderful peoples like the Mongolians and not try to change their lifestyle but appreciate their differences! :)

1point

LindaAbbott 9 years ago

So lucky in so many ways to live so close to nature. It's a rugged life, and a difficult one, but beautiful.

1point

SaundraKelley 9 years ago

Such beautiful people! So people really do live with and ride reindeer - thank you for catching their lives on film and sharing it with us.

1point

FATINSAEED 9 years ago

I wish I could live like them

1point

БилгүүнНасанбат 9 years ago

you can!

0points

Load More Replies...

RemMalapit 9 years ago

amazing! i wanna go there someday and experience their ways of life.

1point

HipChick 9 years ago

I have always loved learning about Mongolians but would love to learn more from them. Wonderful pictures.

1point

Islandgirl 9 years ago

I went to Mongolia last year but was in the wrong area to see the reindeers! I was horse-trekking for 2 weeks and it is an incredible place!

1point

zuzuG 9 years ago

I love my country! Miss you so much.,

1point

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i fwill like to discuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to dispcuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like hto discuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

sGreetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to discuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to kdiscuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to discuss w,ith you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to discuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

STOhistorii 8 years ago

Beautiful! We've been only in central Mongolia, but northern part, people and animals living there also look amazing!

0points

ClaudiaEscamilla 9 years ago

It's beautiful

0points

reb.schneider 9 years ago

Beautiful scenery, beautiful people. Unfortunately, owning a camera, doesnt make you a photographer. These could have been great.

0points

AngelaSaporito 9 years ago

What beautiful people and animals! These photos are breathtaking!

0points

RobynGuest 9 years ago

Stunningly awesome!!

0points

JoAnneKlein 9 years ago

Spectacular photos!. So perfect they look like paintings. Beautiful people, gorgeous scenery, enchanting animals!

0points

DanielChauvin 9 years ago

Is this photo-shopped?

0points

RitaChilders 9 years ago

these are the people who will survive...

0points

JeanineSolomon 9 years ago

Fascinating and utterly beautiful!

0points

ConniePaoletti 9 years ago

Incredible - beautiful people and animals...

0points

ÁgnesLászló 9 years ago

Wonderful, beautyful!!!!

0points

HelenDavis 9 years ago

Fascinating

0points

rameshvyas 9 years ago

Really nice to the other part of the world

0points

JasonHeather 9 years ago

Amazing!!! So sad that these ways of life are diminishing

0points

CatheleenMay 9 years ago

That is really amazing! I love this. They are showing the relationship between man and animal.

0points

SorayaRietkerk 9 years ago

Beautiful!

0points

JoeRoy 9 years ago

Beautiful .....always enjoy seeing how others live....

0points

DonnaMason 9 years ago

It may be a hard life, but it is beautiful and seemingly one with nature., unlike many modern civilizations.

0points

БилгүүнНасанбат 9 years ago

true really hard

0points

Load More Replies...

RogerNehring 9 years ago

Fantastic!

0points

SchalkUys 9 years ago

Amazing pictures

0points

JoannaMarkiewicz 9 years ago

Where can i download/ buy this pics in full size? For private use only

0points

NeilArmstrong 9 years ago

Very interesting

0points

Ysbrand 9 years ago

Beautyfull

0points

NikēLaos 9 years ago

god damn mongorian keep breaking my s****y wall

0points

SinoHarhy 9 years ago

wow beautiful

0points

IdrisArdiPradanaPutra 9 years ago

I love the scenery...

0points

TeaBerries 9 years ago

Wowww

0points

EddyYapLikHong 9 years ago

Wonderful !

0points

MarianWalls 9 years ago

Such a simple and beautiful way to live with nature. Love this. <3

0points

JohanneLepage 9 years ago

Une vie de rêve, pas trop loin du paradis originel.

0points

gmcallis 9 years ago

Beautiful - and so in tune with nature and each other

0points

AnnikaKuhl 9 years ago

wunderschön!

0points

AlisaYalan 9 years ago

These are stunning images.

0points

TanyaLee 9 years ago

Truly amazing. Stunning.

0points

SunshineAlexander 9 years ago

Stunning

0points

MarianellaQueiruga 9 years ago

Breathtakingly beautiful!

0points

MarianneKiss-Gill 9 years ago

Pretty amazing!

0points

M.s.Zakki 9 years ago

BEAUTIFUL !

0points

LaurieKrisko 9 years ago

Amazing & beautiful! !

0points

IngeborgBørch 9 years ago

Very touching and trafik at the same time - diversity is fragte ❤

0points

IngeborgBørch 9 years ago

Tragic :-D

0points

Load More Replies...

LeventParlak 9 years ago

This people is the oldiest middle asian Turks. Their language is near current Turkish.

0points

MuhammedŞakirAbanuzoğlu 9 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukha_people yea man. I watched them speaking Turkish in the documentery. They are lovely anyway but not Mongol

0points

Load More Replies...

CharlotteAuxFraises 9 years ago

Fairytale!

0points

OxanaSmirnova 9 years ago

неужели где то такое ещё бывает)

0points

reb.schneider 9 years ago

Beautiful scenery, beautiful people. Unfortunately, owning a camera, doesn`t make you a photographer. These COULD have been realy great.

-1point

Stanley Keach 8 years ago

Rebecca Schneider -- you may be a wonderful photographer, whose work should be more widely known; however, to many people -- including some with strong backgrounds in the arts -- these photographs of the Dukha people are highly effective and moving. Why denigrate them?

1point

Load More Replies...

reb.schneider 9 years ago

Beautiful scenery, beautiful people. Unfortunately, owning a camera, doesn`t make you a photographer. These COULD have been realy great.

-1point

MuhammedŞakirAbanuzoğlu 9 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukha_people next time please make some searches firs dear admin. they are lovely anyway but not mongolian

-1point

MuhammedŞakirAbanuzoğlu 9 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukha_people They are not Mongolic They are Turkic Imm Turkish aswell and I wathed them speak Turkish in docume

-1point

HarmlessHamster 9 years ago

Yeah, living in the wilderness without indoor toilets, showers or even heaters is not the way to live. The noble savage is a lie.

-1point

ErhanAkkaya 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

ÁgnesMészárosnéMóricz 9 years ago

You are not that "intelligigence" either, are you?!

4points

Load More Replies...

POST

HeatherFassett 9 years ago

amazing and beautiful

28points

ArjandeRuijter 9 years ago

Wow how beautiful!? Would love to travel to Mongolia on one of my adventures. - My adventures so far: http://www.arjanderuijter.com

-3points

Load More Replies...

media 9 years ago

Awesome people

8points

AndreaSmith 9 years ago

Amazing! I would love to spend sometime with them learning their ways!

7points

bubamara 9 years ago

Almost surreal, so much beauty and diversity....

6points

MarissaCiubal 9 years ago

Extraordinary......WOW!!!!!

4points

mcurse 9 years ago

Wonderful pictures I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing Dovas :)

2points

pammo 9 years ago

Wow

2points

VũHoàn 9 years ago

awesome xD

2points

Pamela 9 years ago

We must respect wonderful peoples like the Mongolians and not try to change their lifestyle but appreciate their differences! :)

1point

LindaAbbott 9 years ago

So lucky in so many ways to live so close to nature. It's a rugged life, and a difficult one, but beautiful.

1point

SaundraKelley 9 years ago

Such beautiful people! So people really do live with and ride reindeer - thank you for catching their lives on film and sharing it with us.

1point

FATINSAEED 9 years ago

I wish I could live like them

1point

БилгүүнНасанбат 9 years ago

you can!

0points

Load More Replies...

RemMalapit 9 years ago

amazing! i wanna go there someday and experience their ways of life.

1point

HipChick 9 years ago

I have always loved learning about Mongolians but would love to learn more from them. Wonderful pictures.

1point

Islandgirl 9 years ago

I went to Mongolia last year but was in the wrong area to see the reindeers! I was horse-trekking for 2 weeks and it is an incredible place!

1point

zuzuG 9 years ago

I love my country! Miss you so much.,

1point

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

0points

Jonathan Demme 4 years ago

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to discuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With Regards Jonathan Demme

0points

STOhistorii 8 years ago

Beautiful! We've been only in central Mongolia, but northern part, people and animals living there also look amazing!

0points

ClaudiaEscamilla 9 years ago

It's beautiful

0points

reb.schneider 9 years ago

Beautiful scenery, beautiful people. Unfortunately, owning a camera, doesnt make you a photographer. These could have been great.

0points

AngelaSaporito 9 years ago

What beautiful people and animals! These photos are breathtaking!

0points

RobynGuest 9 years ago

Stunningly awesome!!

0points

JoAnneKlein 9 years ago

Spectacular photos!. So perfect they look like paintings. Beautiful people, gorgeous scenery, enchanting animals!

0points

DanielChauvin 9 years ago

Is this photo-shopped?

0points

RitaChilders 9 years ago

these are the people who will survive...

0points

JeanineSolomon 9 years ago

Fascinating and utterly beautiful!

0points

ConniePaoletti 9 years ago

Incredible - beautiful people and animals...

0points

ÁgnesLászló 9 years ago

Wonderful, beautyful!!!!

0points

HelenDavis 9 years ago

Fascinating

0points

rameshvyas 9 years ago

Really nice to the other part of the world

0points

JasonHeather 9 years ago

Amazing!!! So sad that these ways of life are diminishing

0points

CatheleenMay 9 years ago

That is really amazing! I love this. They are showing the relationship between man and animal.

0points

SorayaRietkerk 9 years ago

Beautiful!

0points

JoeRoy 9 years ago

Beautiful .....always enjoy seeing how others live....

0points

DonnaMason 9 years ago

It may be a hard life, but it is beautiful and seemingly one with nature., unlike many modern civilizations.

0points

БилгүүнНасанбат 9 years ago

true really hard

0points

Load More Replies...

RogerNehring 9 years ago

Fantastic!

0points

SchalkUys 9 years ago

Amazing pictures

0points

JoannaMarkiewicz 9 years ago

Where can i download/ buy this pics in full size? For private use only

0points

NeilArmstrong 9 years ago

Very interesting

0points

Ysbrand 9 years ago

Beautyfull

0points

NikēLaos 9 years ago

god damn mongorian keep breaking my s****y wall

0points

SinoHarhy 9 years ago

wow beautiful

0points

IdrisArdiPradanaPutra 9 years ago

I love the scenery...

0points

TeaBerries 9 years ago

Wowww

0points

EddyYapLikHong 9 years ago

Wonderful !

0points

MarianWalls 9 years ago

Such a simple and beautiful way to live with nature. Love this. <3

0points

JohanneLepage 9 years ago

Une vie de rêve, pas trop loin du paradis originel.

0points

gmcallis 9 years ago

Beautiful - and so in tune with nature and each other

0points

AnnikaKuhl 9 years ago

wunderschön!

0points

AlisaYalan 9 years ago

These are stunning images.

0points

TanyaLee 9 years ago

Truly amazing. Stunning.

0points

SunshineAlexander 9 years ago

Stunning

0points

MarianellaQueiruga 9 years ago

Breathtakingly beautiful!

0points

MarianneKiss-Gill 9 years ago

Pretty amazing!

0points

M.s.Zakki 9 years ago

BEAUTIFUL !

0points

LaurieKrisko 9 years ago

Amazing & beautiful! !

0points

IngeborgBørch 9 years ago

Very touching and trafik at the same time - diversity is fragte ❤

0points

IngeborgBørch 9 years ago

Tragic :-D

0points

Load More Replies...

LeventParlak 9 years ago

This people is the oldiest middle asian Turks. Their language is near current Turkish.

0points

MuhammedŞakirAbanuzoğlu 9 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukha_people yea man. I watched them speaking Turkish in the documentery. They are lovely anyway but not Mongol

0points

Load More Replies...

CharlotteAuxFraises 9 years ago

Fairytale!

0points

OxanaSmirnova 9 years ago

неужели где то такое ещё бывает)

0points

reb.schneider 9 years ago

Beautiful scenery, beautiful people. Unfortunately, owning a camera, doesn`t make you a photographer. These COULD have been realy great.

-1point

Stanley Keach 8 years ago

1point

Load More Replies...

reb.schneider 9 years ago

Beautiful scenery, beautiful people. Unfortunately, owning a camera, doesn`t make you a photographer. These COULD have been realy great.

-1point

MuhammedŞakirAbanuzoğlu 9 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukha_people next time please make some searches firs dear admin. they are lovely anyway but not mongolian

-1point

MuhammedŞakirAbanuzoğlu 9 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukha_people They are not Mongolic They are Turkic Imm Turkish aswell and I wathed them speak Turkish in docume

-1point

HarmlessHamster 9 years ago

Yeah, living in the wilderness without indoor toilets, showers or even heaters is not the way to live. The noble savage is a lie.

-1point

ErhanAkkaya 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

ÁgnesMészárosnéMóricz 9 years ago

You are not that "intelligigence" either, are you?!

4points

Load More Replies...

The Everyday Life Of Reindeer People Living In Mongolia

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