The festival of national cultures "The Land of Belarus United Us" was held in Verkhnedvinsk.

The festival began with an exhibition of works by folk craft masters, where artisans from different parts of the region presented their creativity. The exhibitions by Tatyana Ushakova from Polotsk (artistic painting), Yevgeny Ananich (wood carving), and Sergey Rimdyonok (pottery) from Sharkovshchina were beautiful. The dolls in national costumes made by Natalya Petukhova, a craftswoman from the Lepel Center of Crafts, attracted interest.

The festive event continued with a presentation of national dishes. Here, one could try delicacies of both Belarusian national cuisine and other peoples – Armenian, Mordovian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Tajik. It is impossible not to mention the exhibition of breads prepared by the participants of the folk club of Belarusian national cuisine lovers "Razinka" from Shumilino. The food from the amateur association of Old Believer cuisine, games, and the ritual "Old Believer Feasts" from the Sharkovshchina district was delicious and unusual.

Artistic creative groups and individual performers presented their skills on the stage of the district Center of Culture and Folk Art. Songs, poems, and music in various languages were heard here. Based on the results of the regional festival, the best participants were awarded diplomas and prizes. In the "Vocal Art" nomination among ensembles, the vocal group "Roxalana" from the Lepel district was recognized as the best. Diplomas of laureate of the I degree in the same nomination among soloists were awarded to Anatoly Pashchenko from Polotsk and Marina Andina from Ushachi. In the "Theatrical Art" nomination, the amateur theater "Menorah" of the Jewish public association "Mishpakha" won, presenting the play "Be Healthy, Solomon!". The performance of the folk Jewish national vocal and choreographic ensemble "Vitebsk Girls" of the "Vitebsk" Center of Culture, who performed a medley of Jewish songs and a Jewish dance, was also a highlight.

polka, for which they were awarded II degree diplomas in two nominations.

All attendees were surprised by the performances of ensembles from neighboring countries – Russia and Latvia – the folklore ensemble "Dushegreya" from Sebezh and the choreographic ensemble "Atspolite" from Dagda.

Representatives of the Republican Jury were present at the event, which at the beginning of next year will nominate participants for the final events of the Republican Festival of National Cultures, which will take place in June 2020 in the city of Grodno.

This celebration once again showed that each nationality and culture is like a flower in the common wreath of our country, and our land is hospitable and multinational, where we live in peace and harmony!

Andrei Strunchanka.