Federal Sabantui celebration held in Ulianovsk

Scores of thousands visited the Sabantui celebration in Ulianovsk on July 4. The folk festival took place in the city’s Victory Park.

The distinguished guests attending the ceremony included the Tatarstan State Council chairman Farid Mukhametshin, State Duma member Ildar Gilmutdinov, Nizhnekamsk municipal region head Aidar Metshin and representatives from the World Congress of Tatars. The Ulianovsk region governor Sergei Morozov attended the festival as well.

The festival’s main organiser in Ulianovsk was Nizhnekamsk city which performed the lead role in celebration. Representatives from 56 Tatar communities from Russia, near and far abroad states, including Finland and China, assembled at the local central square.

A best-working machine operator was given the honour to raise the Sabantui flag, after which the ceremonial part of the celebration kicked off. The first to salute the guests on the holiday was Sergei Morozov. He thanked all the village workers, many of them Tatar, for their meaningful contribution to the Ulianovsk region’s development. “We are doing a lot to develop and strengthen Tatar traditions in our region. High schools with Tatar studies appear in the region, there are Tatar culture centres, a monument to the great poet Kul Gali has been opened. Holding the Sabantui festival has come to be a good tradition. This year alone, we have celebrated it 32 times,” said the governor.

Tatarstan State Council Chairman Farid Mukhametshin greeted the audience. On behalf of the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, he hailed everyone of the remarkable event, wishing further success in the work, well-being, good health and family happiness. “It is a joy seeing that Ulianovsk has prepared for the Sabantui so well. I thank the region’s authorities where over 150 thousand Tatars living in its territory being an important part of your community and living well. We need to spread the news of the today’s celebration across Tatarstan,” said Mukhametshin.

Following the formal part, a dramatised prologue took place at the square. Its theme was a tale of how Tatars prepare for celebrating the end of a sowing campaign. The performance involved over 100 high-school students from Nizhnekamsk. The horse race at the local hippodrome was spectacular.

Varied national sports competitions were traditionally held at the square. The winner in the Tatar-Bashkir wrestle was awarded a ram and a foreign-made car.

In the afternoon, Farid Mukhametshin, accompanied by officials, toured the square. The Tatar State Council chairman talked to the people and visited the shopping lane offering folk craft products.

Before departure, Farid Mukhametshin noted: “It is the first time I visit a Sabantui in Ulianovsk. Beautiful celebration, participated by over 50 regions. Thank you, everyone.”

The festival has left happy impressions with Tatar diasporas as well. “I would like to express gratitude to the Tatarstan Culture Ministry and the World Congress of Tatars for the organisation of the Sabantui. Without them, the Diaspora representatives from across the entire country would simply not have met,” said the Sakhalin Tatar Education and Culture Centre’s head Zakiya Valitova. “Tatars in Sakhalin do not forsake their culture and traditions, we have celebrated the Sabantui for 4 years now. First, we did not how to do it but then Tatarstanianas taught us how,” she noted.

The federal celebration in Ulianovsk ran for 2 days.