June 14, village Enkolovo of the Vsevolozhsk region, 30 km from the center of the northern capital of Russia – Saint Petersburg in a big way Tatar-Bashkir national holiday Sabantui took place. Here, in the hospitable land of the Leningrad oblast, together with many guests and participants, having gathered on the Maidan, the joy of meeting shared Chairman of the RT State Council of the Farid Mukhametshin.
The main organizer of the festival was Tatar national-cultural autonomy of St. Petersburg – with the support of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Tatarstan in St. Petersburg and Leningrad oblast, as well as direct leadership of the republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, the administrations of St. Petersburg and Leningrad oblast region.
Even before the official start of the traditional celebrations the guests began to gather on Maidan: St. Petersburg is home to more than a hundred and fifty nations, nationalities and ethnic groups, and many of them are happy to take part in games and competitions of Festival plow. For all nations is clear and close by spirit the idea of this historic action: after a hard seed, you need to relax and to measure themselves before another great work, collecting harvest . Since it is said: how you so you eat! On a wide area, two Ethno “villages”, Tatar and Bashkir draw attention. Here are boiling preparations: the guests are expected.
Tatar village this year has been “built” by representatives of Elabuga municipal region under management of its leader Gennady Emelyanov. Here compactly presented crafts of Tatar people and products of Yelabuga enterprises. Everyone, who comes to learn the traditions of Sabantui meets fairytale character Shurale, and they are entertained with songs and dances of Yelabuga art collectives, and even master carvers, who immediately under the admiring crowd cheers demonstrate their art, creating from lumps of wood funny wooden sculptures!
Farid Mukhametshin arrived at Sabantui, accompanied by St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, Acting Leningrad oblast Governor Konstantin Patraeva, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg Vyacheslav Makarov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tatarstan in St. Petersburg and Leningrad oblast Shamil Ahmetshin. Among the distinguished guests – Member of the State Assembly of Bashkortostan Rumil Aznabayev.
Head of Tatarstan parliament presented state awards to the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Leningrad region RT Ildar Gilyazov, Shamil Akhmetshin, Raisa Yarkaeva. “Dear friends, dear compatriots! Almost seven years, this national holiday of Tatars and Bashkirs, who came from time immemorial as a cultural center that preserves every generation – today in the Russian Federation its is carried out in 56 subjects, 24 countries, densely populated with our compatriots. St. Petersburg residents are always going together on Sabantuy, and I want to thank the leadership of the city and the Leningrad oblast, everyone, who organizes this festival, provides an excellent opportunity to meet us again Tatarstaners and Bashkortostaners, Russians and Chuvashs, – all the nations represented in Sabantuy ! We can shake hands, ask how things are going to introduce our children, and look – to arrange a wedding! “- joked Chairman of RT State Council. Congratulating those present, he added that the ancient city of St. Petersburg, with its inherent traditions of intelligence, always remains the cradle of culture. “The main thing, – Head of the Parliament said – Kazan and St. Petersburg have become special friends during millennium year, and over the years have become even closer. Let this friendship is growing at such festivals as Sabantui! “.
A little later, in response to a media question from Tatarstan and St. Petersburg – what, in his opinion, is the mission of Sabantui for our compatriots, i Tatars living outside Tatarstan, Farid Mukhametshin said: “The role of Sabantui as preservation of intangible heritage culture for us, Tatars is very large. This is maintenance of the language, traditions and customs of our people through this holiday – with one hand. On the other hand – it’s live communication, establishing new contacts. In St. Petersburg and Leningrad created all the conditions for the preservation and development of traditions of all peoples and nationalities, living. What can I say – I am personally very pleased with it”!
