Dokszyce celebrated its 610th anniversary with the "Festival of Two Rivers"

– The festival is unique, – said Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies. – Two rivers, the Berezina and the Viliya, originate in the district: one flows into the Baltic Sea, the other into the Black Sea. The idea of uniting the regions along their banks deserves approval. It has turned out to be a beautiful celebration of friendship and creativity, which has all the prerequisites to soon become international.

– In recent years, the city and the district have been significantly transformed, – noted Oleg Pinchuk, Chairman of the Dokshytsy District Executive Committee. New enterprises have appeared, and previously established ones have become more efficient thanks to modernization. The branch "Vitebsk Production Department for Peat Extraction and Processing" of UP "Vitebskoblgaz", GLHU "Begomlsky Leskhoz" are increasing production volumes for export, OAO "Zavod 'Vetraź'" is successfully operating, and the bakery and confectionery products of Dokshytsy Bakery OAO "Vitebskhlebprom" are in high demand, including in the capital.

Students of Parafyanovo Secondary School of Dokshytsy District and their collection of floral costumes "Melody of Nature"

Thanks to the support of Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, and Nikolai Sherstnev, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, the district is fully supplied with gas. Capital repairs have been carried out at Secondary School No. 1, several departments of the Central District Hospital, and a dental clinic is under construction.

Outstanding natives of the area were invited as honored guests, including Rear Admiral, Hero of Russia Vladimir Dronov, Major General Nikolai Minaev, composer Mar'yan Zelenkevich, talented artists Valentina, Anna, and Galina Markovets, and others.

Not only a dance ensemble but also athletes arrived in Dokshytsy from the Latvian city of Balvi for the 610th anniversary celebration. The international friendly football match pleased the spectators – 4:1 in favor of the home team.

This year, the city festival hosted the first festival auto restyling. Cars of enterprises and institutions of the district, colorfully decorated, drove along the central street. Based on the strings of baranki on a self-propelled oven, a beautiful cow, and a school desk with an alphabet book, one could immediately determine which work collective owned a particular car.

The host of the festive concert, Marina Chaban, arrived ashore on a boat, dressed as a snow-white swan

On City Day, artisans were located in the central park, and a culinary products exhibition and tasting, as well as a review of rural homesteads, were held. All those who wished were treated to aromatic dishes prepared according to ancient recipes.

As a gift to the city, residents of the district created a multi-meter "Blooming Carpet." Each of its parts tells about the natural splendor and attractions of the district. For example, a centuries-old oak tree has long become a symbol of the Sittsevsky rural council.

Thanks to the "Gift to the Beloved City" campaign, many interesting small architectural forms and small sculptures appeared in Dokshytsy on the eve of the holiday, and floral compositions were created on the lake embankment. During the anniversary celebrations, the winners of the competition for the improvement of courtyard areas of apartment buildings were awarded. The first place was taken by the residents of house No. 11 on Shkolnaya Street.

The highlight of the festival was the colorful theatrical procession "Two Rivers Gather Friends." Young beauties helped Olga Zheltkevich and Violetta Matyushenok carry the multi-meter trains of their blue costumes, symbolizing two rivers. A swan swayed gently on a stylized car, followed by creative groups that participated in the celebration, young parents with babies in bright strollers, and city guests, including a delegation from the Russian city of Dmitriev.

The festival, whose logo is a swan with outstretched wings, was held at the source of the Berezina River, where graceful birds fly. The opening of the decorative arch "Swan Fidelity" also took place here, the steps of which lead directly to the river; one of the hosts of the festive concert, Marina Chaban, arrived here on a large boat across the river's surface, dressed as a snow-white swan.
Art groups from three countries performed on stage, including the vocal group of the folk women's choir "Berezinochka" from Lepel district, the folk ensemble of folk songs "Dobry Nastroy" from Bobruisk district of Mogilev region, the vocal ensemble "Impuls" from Dmitriev, and others.

Territorial centers of the Vitebsk region in the park near the summer amphitheater presented an exhibition of creative works by people with disabilities. Nearby, a review competition of family creativity was held, which was won by the Navoychik family.

Talented performers from many districts of the Vitebsk region came to the vocal competition "Berezina Melodies" this year. The evening program concluded with concerts by the honored amateur folk-ethnic ensemble "Nerush", the art group "PROvokatsiya", a fire show, and an open-air disco.

Diana BERNIKOVICH, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".