Maslenitsa was widely celebrated in Ankara within the frameworks of the Cross Year of Culture and Tourism of Russia and Turkey on March 9 and 10. The festival was organized by the Association of Russian Culture with the support of Russkiy Mir Foundation, Russian Embassy in Turkey, the representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo and the Committee on External Relations of Saint Petersburg.
Festivities in the old Russian tradition were opened by gorodki game, which were held by President of the Federation of Urban Sports of Saint Petersburg Yevgeny Artamonov and Vice-President Sergey Oblogin.
More than 200 people took part in the competition, including compatriots and Turkish citizens. Children, adults, representatives of youth organizations, students of Turkish universities, pupils and teachers of the school at Russian Embassy, Russian builders of Akkuyu NPP and students of the educational center of the Russian Culture Association got a lot of positive emotions. The participants expressed a desire to make the game an annual tradition, and also discussed the prospect of holding an all-Turkish tournament.
На протяжении всего праздника работали торговые ряды ярмарки, где можно было попробовать блины и другую выпечку, а также выпить горячего чая.
Масленичные гулянья не обошлись без огненного шоу и сожжения чучела зимы.
The celebration continued on the stage of Panora shopping and entertainment center with a welcome address by Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov and other officials.
Various creative groups took part in the entertainment program for guests of the holidays
Children’s dance ensembles at the Association of Russian Culture opened the concert. Musicians, vocalists and ballet dancers of the Saint Petersburg’s Moroshka Theater of Song and Dance presented Russian folk songs, dances and games.
Праздник продолжился на сцене торгово-развлекательного центра «Panora».
С приветственным словом к гостям обратились российский посол в Турции А. В. Ерхов, председатель правления Ассоциации русской культуры Л. А. Луткова-Тюрккан, вице-президент Федерации городошного спорта Санкт-Петербурга, член президиума Международной федерации городошного спорта мастер спорта России С. И. Облогин, а также ведущий специалист отдела по связям с соотечественниками за рубежом Комитета по внешним связям Санкт-Петербурга Д. Р. Ильинская (она выступила с приветственным адресом от председателя Комитета по внешним связям Санкт-Петербурга Е. Д. Григорьева.
Throughout the holiday, the trade rows of the fair worked, where guests could taste pancakes and other pastries with hot tea.
Maslenitsa included fire show and the burning of winter effigy.
Natalia Dzhantash, Ankara
