Alkhalalalay is the Itelmen ritual celebrating the end of seasonal agricultural activities, such as fishing, harvesting wild herbs and berries, and hunting fur-bearing animals.
The festivities always take place once a year between 19 and 30 November and last for several days. This event provides a chance for each person involved to restore the course of nature disrupted by the economic production. All the participants atone for their sins and appease the spirits. The ritual is guided by the elders, and they are the first to utter a ritual cry “alkhalalalay”.
The festival starts with the “sweeping the yurt” rite. Ladders in the participants’ homes play a significant role in the ritual: the old items are replaced with new ones, and the area around them is cleansed with ritual grass. The ladder represents the link between the upper spirit and lower human worlds. The ritual also has the part of peace-offering to the spirit of fire so that it does not destroy the settlement.
In the 20th century, the Itelmens almost abandoned the Alkhalalalay festivities altogether, but the memories of some locals helped bring it back. Today, this old tradition became the main tourist attraction of the Kamchatka region attracting numerous visitors every year.