Sabantuy in Kazan: ‘battle’ between Nikiforov and a pot and nostalgia of the Rubin’s coach
On 28 May, Tatarstan celebrated Sabantuy in Mirny village. The President of Tatarstan specially changed the date of celebration in order the guests of two events of international level could participate in it – the meetings of the strategic vision group 'Russia – Islamic world' and the conferences of the organization United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). The celebration was marked by two unexpected visits: of the Minister of Communications of Russia Nikolay Nikiforov, who tried to break a clay pot with a stick, and a new coach of FC Rubin Javier Gracia, who due to Sabantuy remembered his origins, as well as the film crew of TV program Evening Urgant headed by Allochka Mikheyeva. The correspondent of Realnoe Vremya enjoyed the national flavour of the celebration together with foreign guests.
'Karavais are as many as VIPs — try to count'
Sabantuy in Kazan was traditionally accompanied by large traffic jams on the roads leading to Birch grove (Beryozovaya roshcha) in Mirny village. However, all traffic troubles were quickly forgotten immediately after the long-awaited arrival to the site of celebration of Sabantuy. The guests were welcomed by national songs and dances, as well as a noisy crowd of happy people.
A special greeting was waiting for the honourary guests: they were welcomed by beauties in national costumes with bread and salt (bread and salt is a welcome greeting ceremony in many European cultures – editor's note) and chak-chak (a Tatar sweet — edotor's note) and by Tatar ensemble performing folk songs and dances. After each 'part' of guests, the treats were changed. On the question of Realnoe Vremya about how many karavais (korovai or karavai is a traditional Russian, Ukrainian Romanian and Polish bread, most often used at weddings, where it has great symbolic meaning, dates back to hospitality and holiday customs in ancient Rus – editor's note) the organizers prepared, the press service of the President could not answer definitely: 'Karavais are as many as VIPs — try to count'.
Among the honored guests there were the participants of two major events held last week in Kazan – it is the members of the world organization United Cities and Local Governments, whom Rustam Minnikhanov personally invited to Sabantuy, as well as the representatives of the strategic vision group 'Russia – Islamic world'. By the way, beautiful ladies in traditional costumes delighted the foreign guests, almost every delegate took a photo of the Tatar beauties or a selfie with the ladies.
Closer to 11 a.m., there arrived Rustam Minnikhanov accompanied by an impressive delegation. Next to the President there were the mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, the Minister of Communications of Russia Nikolay Nikiforov, our Minister of Informatization and Communications Roman Shaikhutdinov, the metropolitan Feofan, the chairman of MRB RT Kamil hazrat Samigullin, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Akhmetov, and many others. As soon as Rustam Minnikhanov did a step after the traditional treats with chak-chak, in front of him as if out of nowhere appeared a little boy in Tatar national costume. The President hunkered down to listen to a poem told by a little dzhigit, while Metshin was videoing all the action on the phone.
An unyielding clay pot, President's gorodki and tips for 'Evening Urgant'
Then there was a long tour around the slobodas (sloboda — a kind of settlement in the history of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine – editor's note) of Sabantuy, each of which represented the peculiarities of various regions of Republic.
During the visit to the first sloboda, the President and the Minister of Communications of Russia made a traditional rite — they tied white handkerchiefs to the pole, Rustam Minnikhanov carefully showed Nikolay Nikiforov how to tie a knot correctly. Then there was another 'test' for the Minister: blindfolded, he tried to smash a clay pot with a stick. Minnikhanov, smiling, was watching for unsuccessful attempts. 'The clay enemy' of Nikiforov seemed to be too strong for a weapon of destruction that was handed to him. Rustam Minnikhanov even decided to inspect the pot personally — turning it in his hands and tapping it, he nodded — really sturdy.
During the tour, the President played gorodki (an ancient Russian folk sport. Similar in concept to bowling and also somewhat to horseshoes, the aim of the game is to knock out groups of skittles arranged in various patterns by throwing a bat at them – editor's note), hitting the target on the first attempt, held in the hands white doves from the mini-zoo in one of the slobodas, took photos with the fighters and gave a short interview to suddenly appeared Allochka Mikheyeva from 'Evening Urgant'. Rustam Minnikhanov gave the Muscovites a few tips on how to behave at the event: 'You have to sing, dance, eat our food, to participate in competitions. We will also dance, sing with you.'
Applause for the Turkish guest and Tatar fairy tales in dance
After almost hour-long tour around the exhibition, the officials finally arrived to maidan, where a colorful perfomance began. Hundreds of artists singing and dancing showed the audience Tatar fairy tales such as 'Shurale' and 'Su anasy'. After the performance, on stage came Rustam Minnikhanov and Nikolai Nikiforov, the President of UCLG Kadir Topbash, Deputy Secretary of State of the head of Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs Pavel Semyonov and others.
The first speaker with a brief welcome speech was the head of Kazan, after which he gave the floor to Nikolai Nikiforov. The Minister thanked the leadership of Tatarstan for the invitation to the celebration and confessed that he was overwhelmed with pride for his native Republic.
UCLG President Kadir Topbash elicited a great round of applause by beginning his speech in the Tatar language.
'This is my third visit and the third participation in Sabantuy. I am pleased to see this amusement, let it be long. Istanbul also celebrates Sabantuy, and most recently we have celebretaed it. I am sending you lots of love and a big hello!' greeted the Tatarstan residents Topbash.
'Those countries can become the strongest ones which preserve their culture'
Perhaps, in the entire history of its existence, the Birch grove had never hosted such a large number of foreign guests. Realnoe Vremya managed to talk with the Australian participant of the meeting of UCLG Peter Woods , who shared his impressions of Sabantuy and told about similar events in his country.
'I am in Kazan for the second time, last year I was in August, I also watched the performance. I want to come again. The level of organization is astonishing,' shared Woods. 'In general, I think that the culture preservation is very important in our world of high technology. Many countries do not pay enough attention to this. I think that those countries can become the strongest ones which respect their culture and preserve it.'
According to the Australian, Sabantuy is a great experience not only in bringing local residents together but also in developing respect between different ethnicities.
'Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, local cultures are simply ignored. It is pleasant to see the revival and continuation of the culture here — the same thing we should see around the world. It brings people together, make them respect other ethnicities and cultures instead of participating in a conflict,' said our interlocutor. 'In Australia we have something similar: we have agricultural shows where people gather and share with others their harvest. Australia is a multicultural country, there are people from all over the world. We have a large Russian diaspora, many Germans, Lebanese… We also hold events where representatives of different ethnicities show dances and cultural performances — it is excellent, it symbolizes the unity of different ethnicities.'
Smashing a pot and the running of the bulls of the new coach of Rubin
Also, the event was attended by the new head coach of FC Rubin Javier Gracia, who visited the slobodas simultaneously with the presidential delegation and appreciated the bright performance along with other VIP guests.
By the way, the Spaniard, as well as Nikiforov, had to 'fight' with a pot, however, he had a slightly different task: Gracia blindfolded hit an iron pot with a wooden stick. The head coach of Rubin successfully coped with the task, though not from the first time, and received the sweetest gift — a wooden spoon.
On the question what is more difficult — run of the bulls (Gracia was born in the North of Spain, where popular is encierro — running of the bulls) or to hit a pot with the eyes closed, the coach of Rubin said that the hardest part is to make the team played well.
'I have the most wonderful first impressions of Tatarstan. Soon I'm going to Spain, but only in order to pick things up and again to come here. I have been here for a while, but I loved it,' shared Gracia. 'At this festival you can get acquainted with all the traditions that exist in your Republic. I have been struck by very welcoming, very nice people who love their Republic. And looking at this holiday, I recall my roots, remember where I came from.'