Дуслыг хураавал далай

Kultureller Hintergrund

Water is considered 'Blue Gold' in Mongolia. Wasting a single drop is traditionally seen as bad luck. This proverb reinforces the sacred value of every small drop. Nomads live by the cycles of nature. They know that a single rainstorm (many drops) can turn a brown steppe into a green pasture overnight. This proverb captures that environmental reality. In modern Ulaanbaatar, this proverb is the unofficial slogan of the savings culture. Banks often use it in their marketing to encourage the middle class to start small savings accounts. The proverb is often written on the walls of primary schools across Mongolia to instill a sense of 'patience' (тэвчээр) in children from a young age.