- Title: RUSSIA-TYVA/FESTIVAL Russia's Siberian republic celebrates Tyva culture
- Date: 28th July 2015
- Summary: WOMAN SHOOTING ARROW VARIOUS OF MAN IN TRADITIONAL TYVA COSTUME PICKING UP ARROW VARIOUS OF WOMAN SHOOTING ARROW ARROW HITTING SCREEN IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3T9GILXU9UMPWYY4H63AJFO2Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of people flocked to traditional annual folk festival in the remote Russian Siberian republic of Tyva.
The festival takes place at the site of ancient Buddhist temples which were destroyed in 1937 during anti-religion campaign. It takes its name - 'Ustuu Khuree' - after one of these destroyed temples.
Around 500 people took part in a horse race this year. Some of the riders dared to mount a horse the traditional way, without a saddle.
Some of the youngest participants, some just nine-years-old, galloped alongside adults in 15 to 25 kilometre races.
One of the key events of the festival was a competition in traditional Tyvan bow shooting.
Artysh Chuldum, one of the archers, said the bow was different from a traditional one.
"It's only difference with the sports bow is that it has no sight device, you are just aiming roughly and shoot. And the arrows are different, they are heavy and not sharp," he said.
The highlight of the festival was a competition in traditional Tyvan wrestling Khuresh.
"Anyone who feels that he is Tyvan, which implies language, culture and so on, he will go to the place where Khuresh (traditional wrestling) is held in any weather, because if no relative of yours, but your friend, your fellow, someone else, son of your friend, your classmate or group mate, somebody is fighting there for sure," said Andrei Chumba who came to the festival specially to watch Khuresh.
Audience cheered as the wrestlers threw each other on the grass of a soccer stadium, where the competition was held.
"When we come there, we really change, each of us turns into a giant animal which is watching this wrestling, and we give it all our passion, our whole heart," Chumba added.
Visitors could also walk through a village of 'yurtas'- traditional houses of Tyvan shepherds. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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