On 16 August 2024, on the territory of the Bolgar Museum-Reserve the opening of the festival ‘Spiritual unity of Russia – a message to the world’ took place. The guests plunged into the medieval atmosphere of the fair of masters of folk arts and crafts – ‘Aga-bazar’.
The Museum of Bolgar Civilization hosted the opening of the exhibition of Arabic calligraphy where tugras, calligraphic compositions, shamails, tezhibs of the famous masters of the republic: Vladimir Popov, Najip Nakkash, Rishat Salyakhutdinov, Gulnaz Ismagilova were presented. The guests also saw the exhibition of paintings ‘Legends of Bolgar’ by the Sirazievs and an exhibition of ceramics by Natalia Pilyugina, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia.
Candidate of Art History, Honored Art Worker of Tatarstan R.I. Shamsutov gave a lecture ‘Signs and symbols in shamails’.
At the ‘Chiram’ site, guests were given a tasting of honey, tea and cheese, as well as a master class on making dolls from herbs.
At the ‘Uen Fest’ site, young visitors played traditional board games and practiced archery.
In the evening, the festival’s grand opening took place. Mintimer Shaimiev, State Counsellor of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Republican Renaissance Foundation, and Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, took part in the opening ceremony.
After the opening of the festival, the opera ‘Kara Pulat’ was traditionally performed in the open air against the backdrop of the Black Chamber, a unique monument of Golden Horde architecture of the 14th century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A modern light visualization effect was applied on the building of the Black Chamber. The plot of the opera is based on a Tatar legend about twelve girls who were burnt by Tamerlane’s soldiers.
The festival will continue until 18 August.

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