RUSSIA-SABANTUY/SIBERIA Russia's Tatars celebrate traditional Sabantuy festival

Record ID: 146227

  • Title: RUSSIA-SABANTUY/SIBERIA Russia's Tatars celebrate traditional Sabantuy festival
  • Date: 22nd July 2015
  • Summary: PEOPLE AT FESTIVAL SIGN READING IN RUSSIAN "SABANTUY" ON WOODEN KIOSK VARIOUS OF MEN COMPETING IN TRADITIONAL BELT WRESTLING PEOPLE WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABXNKM9X9TKDRL4HOTQ3W5ROO1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Russia's ethnic Tatars living in Siberia celebrated their national Sabantuy festival in the city of Krasnoyarsk. The festival which is dating back over a thousand years was attended by Tatars representatives from various regions and lasted for two days.
    Sabantuy is held in the summer, after summer solstice, at the end of the sowing season and is connected with plow festivals of the pre-Islamic times.
    The highlights of the festival included traditional Tatars' and also ethnic Bashkir's sport contests and games.
    The organisers of the event said they expected 40.000 people to attend this year's Sabantuy.
    "The most important about this holiday - it is a holiday of the plow and we carry out competitions in national sports, such as Koresh, then national games such as climbing a pole, arm wrestling, rope pulling," said Insaf Nizamiyev, Sabantuy festival participant.
    The most popular competitions included traditional harness race and belt wrestling. 45 riders from various Russian regions took part in the race, which brought its winner a prize of 1,500USD. Winners of traditional belt wrestling fight "Koresh" received cars.
    After watching contests the festival guests could enjoy Tatar and Bashkir dishes, sing old songs and perform traditional dances.
    "First of all it is our national holiday, it is a plow holiday, it is held after sowing season is over, it is hope for a good harvest and it is (a celebration of) friendship," said Marina Tazenkova, the festival guest.
    This year's Sabantuy celebration was attended by Tatars from almost 30 Russian regions, among them Tatarstan, Khakassia, Irkutsk, Kemerovo regions.
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