Nay Pyi Taw June 26
Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremony marking the traditional Sabantuy summer festival of the Re-
public of the Tatarstan as a special guest at the invitation of President Mr. Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov of Tatarstan this morning local time.
Also present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were member Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo of the SAC, senior military officers from the Office the Commander-in Chief, members of the delegations, the president of the Republic of Tatarstan, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Nigmatullin Rustan Kamilievich, the Mayor of Kazan, officials, local and foreign guests and residents.
The Senior General and the delegation arrived at the Maidan Square in Kazan, where the event took place, and they were welcomed traditionally by the chairman of the tourism board of the Republic of Tatarstan and the chairman of the city development committee.
Then, the Senior General and the delegation viewed round the display of local traditional products, traditional sports com-petitions, the traditional bazaar and funfairs. Residents greeted the Senior General and the delegation cheerfully by performing traditional dances and music and officials explained local traditions and customs. The Senior General asked them questions on topics of interest.
When the ceremony began at the square, the president of the Republic of Tatarstan cordially greeted participants and delivered a welcoming speech. Then, to mark the opening of the ceremony, cultural dances and music and dances depicting traditional customs were per-formed and participants took part in the festivities cheerfully by enjoying the performance.
The Sabantuy summer festival is a traditional festival organized in successive eras during the free period when farmers in Tatarstan have successfully sowed seeds for their crops but are still waiting for the harvesting season. The festival is held in rural areas during the first week of June, in small towns during the second week, in cities during the third week and in Kazan during the fourth week of the month. The festival features funfairs, sports competitions and bazaars participated by all ethnic groups and promote friendship among them.
The festival is also a beautiful event in which local products, traditional products and foodstuffs and traditional dances are on display. Worthy prizes are also offered for excellent performances especially in traditional wrestling contests, in which a car is offered to the first prize winner. The festival is held only one day in a town and local and foreign guests participate in the event on a grand scale.
Then, the president of Tatarstan hosted a luncheon in honour of the Senior General and the delegation and delivered a greeting speech. After the speech, the Senior General spoke words to thanks for the opportunity to participate in the traditional festival as a special guest and learn lovely traditions and customs and prayed for health and prosperity of all ethnic groups in the Republic of Tatarstan before enjoying the luncheon together.
