At the beginning of April, the International Friendship Club “Gornyak” traditionally holds its interethnic festival at the Mining Multifunctional Complex. This year, the event brought together 800 participants from 15 countries around the world. It united representatives of the republics of the Russian Federation—Dagestan, Tatarstan, and Bashkortostan—as well as participants from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Belarus, and the countries of Latin America.
The festival opened with a presentation of national stands, where each team created a unique space, immersing visitors in its culture. Guests were able not only to see household items and traditional costumes, but also to taste national dishes and hear the sound of ancient musical instruments.
The attendees were addressed by Kabul Batirovich Alimov, Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Saint Petersburg, and Nurgeldi Redzhepovich Seyidov, Director of the Turkmen Culture Society Mekan. The festival was opened by the Choir of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.
The concert program began with a traditional Avar dance performed by young women from Dagestan. They were followed by choreographic performances by students from Bangladesh and Azerbaijan.
«We began with a deep immersion into Indian mythology, telling the legend of the goddess Kali and the invocation of Lord Shiva through dance. But, following the true formula of Bollywood, where good always triumphs, we then moved into a spectacular stick-fighting performance. This martial dance, incorporating elements of Hindu tradition, surprised the audience with its contrast. We concluded with contemporary choreography, demonstrating the transition from antiquity to the present day», – shared Darya Gosteva, captain of the Indian team and a student of the University of Industrial Technologies and Design.
The Belarusian participants presented a contemporary interpretation of the folk dance Lyavonikha, the finale of which featured girls wearing wreaths carrying a traditional karavay through a round dance. The teams from Tajikistan and Turkmenistan immersed the audience in the atmosphere of a wedding conducted according to ancient rituals; representatives of Tatarstan filled the hall with national songs, while the team from Bashkortostan performed melodies on the kurai, a traditional musical instrument. The Latin American group brought the program to a close with a true carnival atmosphere, performing a Panamanian dance of African origin.
«The format of the event does not imply a single absolute winner, since each participant makes an invaluable contribution to the overall cultural palette. Nevertheless, several teams received special awards: India won in the nomination ‘Original Concept,’ Belarus was recognized for ‘Bridge of Cultures,’ and Latin America received an award for the most emotional performance», – noted the event organizer, Alina Pishch, a second-year student of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
Over the course of its existence, the International Friendship Club has organized more than a thousand events, meetings, festivals, and celebrations, bringing together tens of thousands of students from nearly one hundred countries around the world.