Sabantuy: A People’s Festival
Sabantuy — a people’s festival where spring fieldwork ends and the community comes alive. While traditionally celebrated by Tatars and Bashkirs, in the Omsk Region it has become a truly multicultural event. On June 24, Kolosovka hosted the festivities, welcoming creative groups from Omsk. And even as rain started falling four times, the celebrations never lost their sparkle.
Parade
Sabantuy is part of the 13th “Unity” Regional Festival of National Cultures
The “Spike” stadium is brightly decorated for the celebration
The “Ethno Village” area is getting ready to treat guests to a wide variety of dishes
The first event of the celebration is a parade
Performers and officials line up in a column
It heads for the monument to home‑front workers, war widows, and wartime children
Right before the monument, a minute of silence is announced
Laying a wreath‑garland is a Sabantuy tradition in our region
Symbolically, the first Victory Parade took place on this very day in 1945
The final destination of the route is the main stage!
The column marches across the stadium
The participants greet the spectators
Many have come from the northern districts of the region
The Tatar population there lives in close‑knit communities
Bringing up the rear is the “Umyrzaya” folk Tatar‑Bashkir ensemble from Omsk
Opening Ceremony
It is they who are honoured to open the festival with a song of the Siberian Tatars
Greetings from officials will follow
On stage are Natalya Stepanova, director of the Omsk House of Friendship, and Sergei Vysotsky, head of the district
After the opening remarks, Imam Radik Akhmedov reads a short prayer
It finds an echo in the hearts of those gathered
The raising of the Sabantuy flag means the festival has begun!
Performing is “Mlada”, the Russian song ensemble of the Kolosovka Children’s Art School
The baton is passed to “Makhabbat”, the Tatar folk ensemble
Their songs are in different languages, but about the same things: summer, people, and the celebration
Village Homesteads
Meanwhile, the homesteads of the “Ethno Village” invite everyone to sample dishes of national cuisine
This, for instance, is an Armenian family’s table
The hostess is happy when everyone finds the food to their taste
The craftswomen not only sell their wares but also offer words of wisdom
Right here, you can see everyday objects of bygone times
The “Ethno Village” participants won’t let you leave without a treat or a photo to remember the day!
Conquering the Pole
The daredevils face a pole so tall that climbing safety gear is provided
The first contestant is lucky enough to get clear skies
Conquering the height is a real challenge — let’s remember this young man
It’s disappointing to stop just short of the goal, but the pole isn’t the only trial of Sabantuy
Another prize contender sets off
It takes him less than a minute to reach the top
Friends film this triumphant ascent
The coveted little box is within arm’s reach
Congratulations on a well‑deserved prize!
Concert
Meanwhile, the concert goes on. On stage is the “Sudarushka” ensemble
The audience will take home a wealth of vivid impressions
Special guests — performers from Tatarstan: Faiz Maidullin and Fyura Talipova‑Kulakhmetova
Nazakat Melkova performs a Tatar dance with a samovar‑style teapot
Her fellow artists from other creative groups cheer her on enthusiastically
At the end of the act, it turns out the teapot was full after all!
Contests
Sack fights are a favourite pastime across many different cultures
Lost your footing on the log? No hard feelings — a contest is a contest
The younger kids watch with great interest as the older ones face off
Another sporting game is called “The Merry Water Carrier”
But all eyes are on kuresh wrestling, where opponents hold each other by the belt
Emotions are guaranteed — especially when friends test their strength and agility on the mat
The most spectacular bouts, of course, are between the adult athletes
Recognize the young man we already saw on the pole?
After a series of duels, he is the festival’s chief strongman!
Finale and Awards
Despite the rain, the main stage is never empty
The spectators remain fully absorbed in what’s happening
And the performers sing their finest festive songs for them
After several downpours in a single day, it no longer matters whether you sing on the stage or beside it
What matters is hearing one another and bringing people goodness and joy
For the people of Omsk, the trip to Kolosovka proved memorable and inspiring
The awards ceremony embraced everyone, including the prize‑winners of the Tatar song contest
By tradition, the chief strongman took a lap of honour around the stage with his prize ram
Over a thousand people attended Sabantuy, weather tantrums notwithstanding!
