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HIDIRELLEZ – 2012
05 May 2012
The all-Crimean celebration of Crimean Tatar national festival Hidirellez, held on May 5, 2012 on a vast field next to the cultural and entertaining center “Shakherezada” (25th kilometer of Simferopol – Bakhchisaray route) according to various estimations has gathered from 25 to 30 thousand Crimean residents from all around Crimea.
It is remarkable that Hidirellez gathered together people, belonging to different nationalities, living in Crimea and guests that arrived from Zaporozhskaya and Kherson regions, Odessa, Kyiv and Turkey.
During the ceremonial opening of the festival Mufti of Muslims of Crimea hajji Emirali Ablaev wished all the participants of the festival good and health and made prayer.
The Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Jemilev, the President of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars, Refat Chubarov, the Vice-Prime Minister of Turkey, Ali Babajan and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine, Mehmet Samsar greeted all the present.
“May 18 is coming soon. It is marked with people’s grief and sufferings, Mustafa Jemilev started his speech. But, there are not only black days, but also holidays in our life. It is natural. Today we have gathered here to celebrate one of the oldest holidays of our people – Hidirellez festival. Maythisdaybethedayoffriendshipandunity. We must restore all our traditions in our homeland. I’m glad that this year there are far more people that came to celebrate this holiday and one should also note that there are a lot of youth and children!”
According to the national tradition there was a rolling of qalay (cake) here on the stage. This honorable mission was entrusted to the Chairman of Milli Mejlis, Mustafa Jemilev.
The Vice-Prime Minister of Turkey Ali Babajan congratulated all the present on behalf of the whole Turkish people.
“Today we gathered here to demonstrate our cohesion, unity and confidence in the future of our land. You, the participants of the festival, arriving from all the corners of our beautiful Homeland and our guests from other regions of Ukraine, as well as other countries have decorated this festival with your presence,”- Refat Chubarov said from the stage. I also would like to thank the local authorities and regional mejlises, creative groups, entrepreneurs, representatives of Mass Media for their contribution to the preparation and carrying out of the holiday. I know and believe that in 2 weeks on May 18 at the Central Square in Aqmescit we will be as united as today and will gather together to honor the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people, to demonstrate our will and resolution to restore the rights of the Crimean Tatar people”.
“My dear nationals, today I recall the year of 1968, the events in Chirchik town, when we gathered together the same way to celebrate this festival, but we were broke up with water jets and truncheons, – veteran of the national movement, Ayshe Seytmuratova shared her memories. Could we ever believe that we will be able to celebrate our national holiday at such high level in our native land?”
As was planned there were various contests, competitions and concerts around the whole territory of the festival during the day. It is pleasant to note that Crimea was represented with all its regions and towns, including the heads of the state bodies and regional mejlises.
The winners of the sport competitions and contests received special prizes.
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of ARC, Anatoly Mogilev awarded personally the winners of the horse races.
The young football players played their championship in the separate ground. The national handicraftsmen showed their works in the tents, spread out on the field. The famous cooks and cookery experts presented the national cuisine.
One of the symbolic points of the festival’s program was the launch of the symbols of peace – pigeons. Living in peace in our own land is the wish, inherent in every nation and people.
