News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko: Alexandria Gathers Friends has grown into international festival

ALEXANDRIA. 6 July (BelTA) - Alexandria Gathers Friends has turned from a small cozy event into an international festival, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the national festival Kupala Night (Alexandria Gathers Friends), BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that July has become a kind of month of Slavic culture: Kupala Night in Alexandria will be followed by Slavianski Bazaar that will kick off in Vitebsk in a week.

"They are all about the Slavic culture. Although both Alexandria and the festival in Vitebsk have long ceased to be solely Slavic. Representatives of more than ten countries have come here. More than 30 countries will be featured at Slavianski Bazaar. This confirms my thesis that this is no longer a Slavic bazaar. But all the same, it all started from here," the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that today's generations perceive the Dnieper as an ordinary river, but in ancient times it was a true waterway. "The waterway that brought, as many historians say, our ancestors from the south. Here they felt their lives were freer. They were probably heavily oppressed there. Our ancestors moved up to the north from Kiev, from the Danube, as many experts say. Therefore, the Dnieper River is a special river. It is good that our generation has revived this wonderful tradition to gather during these Kupala days on the banks of the ancient Dnieper," the head of state stressed.

"For 15 years now, we have been gathering in this picturesque corner of Belarus to feel the connection of times. In such a short period of time, the event has turned from a small cozy gathering into a national and international festival. However, it has not lost its coziness feel. There is a really special atmosphere here, but we have preserved a feeling of coziness too," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The president noted that the festival has become a place of attraction for creative people and true fans of the original Slavic culture from all over Belarus and from other countries.

"We did not plan the festival of such a scale. But people were drawn here. This is the call of the heart. This is a call for true values, where guests are sincerely welcome, where the pulse of a living creative life beats," the Belarusian leader said.

The main event of Alexandria Gathers Friends was the gala concert "Only here stars shine so bright". Its plot was based on the idea of a peaceful Belarusian sky, on which you can always see stars and constellations. The storyline was revealed through humorous stories about the stay of modern youth in the village, their acquaintance with its residents and folk customs and village life.

The concert program also reflected the themes of the Year of Quality, space exploration, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders. Special attention is paid to the topic of the 30th anniversary of the presidency in Belarus.

The gala concert wrapped up with a fireworks display and Kupala Night bonfire.

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