On 26 May 2024, within the framework of the project “Pushkin’s card”, the staff of the Bolgar Museum-Reserve held an interactive event ‘An extraordinary journey to the Bolgar Khanate’ for 31 students of the town of Cheremshan.
At the theatrical performance, the students were immersed in the atmosphere of the medieval city of Bolgar. ‘Khan’, ‘Khanbike’ and the Guardian of Crafts told about the history of Volga Bulgaria, how trade, science, education and crafts developed in this state. The participants of the event were presented master-classes on pottery, art painting and vine weaving. The children saw how plastic clay in the hands of a master turns into a finished product and even tried to work on a potter’s wheel themselves. The artists presented a master class on artistic painting of plaster figurines. Applying intricate patterns is a painstaking and fascinating process, in which the children took part with pleasure. At the master-class, the basic methods and techniques of vine weaving were presented. Then everyone was acquainted with the peculiarities of Arabic script and imitation of ancient writing devices. The children learnt how to write their names in Arabic using ink and a goose quill.
A gastronomic master class was held for the participants of the event where the recipe and tradition of serving one of the oldest dishes of Tatar cuisine ‘bal-mai’ was presented. The students listened with great interest to the secrets and instructions on the preparation of this special treat, tasted bal-mai with fresh bread.
In the end, everyone enjoyed playing medieval board games ‘Alquerque’ and ‘Mill’.

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