"Zvinyats' tsymbaly i harmonik" in Postavy
The folk celebration got a good start with a wide scope in the following days. On Saturday, the holiday began with a press conference with the heads of delegations, jury members and the organizing committee, and media representatives. This year there were fewer guests, and the reason for this is known – difficulties with crossing the state border due to the pandemic. But those who could not come sent their video greetings to the participants with wishes for creative success and confidence that next year they will all gather together again. The chairman of the district executive committee, Sergey Chepik, told those present about the district, the cultural traditions of the region, and the 30-year history of the festival, in which creative groups from 20 countries of near and far abroad took part. The First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus, Roman Khasiev, People's Artist of Belarus Evgeny Gladkov, as well as the author of the project and initiator of the festivals in the Pastavy region, Tadeusz Struzhetsky, addressed the audience with welcoming words.
Among the honored guests of the musical celebration were the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, the Head of the Department of Cultural Institutions and Folk Art of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Irina Karpovich, the Head of the Department of Culture of the Regional Executive Committee Petr Podgursky, the Ambassador of France to the Republic of Belarus Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste.
While the press conference was taking place at the district executive committee, the festival life was in full swing on the central square. The best craftsmen of the region exhibited their works, the doors of peasant farmsteads were opened, the owners of which surprised visitors with their flight of fancy in decorating the "premises", with jokes, songs, and, of course, dishes.
And in the House of Culture, numerous amateur groups, which were sent from all regions of our country, as well as the Association of Koreans in Belarus, and foreign students studying at Masherov University, were waiting to go on stage. Looking ahead, it must be said that their performances were brilliant, once again demonstrating that despite the national colors of the cultures of Korea, China, and Turkmenistan, music unites peoples.
The traditional competition "Who is better than whom?" gathered more than a dozen performers. Cimbalom players, ensembles, and singers, who competed in the mastery of playing folk instruments and performing refrains, succeeded one another. The jury, which included well-known cultural figures in the country, had a difficult time choosing the best of the best. And the audience liked everyone: both the very young performers, for whom the festival competition was the first in their lives, and the well-known ensembles. The hall erupted in applause after the performance of the folk instrumental ensemble "Bon-Ton" of the Mirnoye Children's Art School of the Baranovichi District, the ensemble "Zamanikha" from Polotsk, the ensemble "Strechanne" of the Mozyr Oil Refinery, the cimbalom orchestra "Lyra" from the Minsk region...
Guests and hosts pleased the audience with their creativity at the solemn opening ceremony of the Festival, during which many warm words were heard from representatives of the Ministry of Culture, regional and district authorities.
Greetings were sent to all its participants by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Anatoly Markevich, announced by Irina Karpovich, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Shersnev, and Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev. The congratulatory letter from the leaders of the Vitebsk region, on behalf of whom the attendees were welcomed by the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, stated, in particular: "This year's festival is taking place in the year declared the Year of National Unity in our country. Thanks to folk musical culture and art, people feel a connection with their history, adopt the moral foundations laid by their ancestors, and pass them on to the younger generation."
This idea was continued in the congratulatory speech of the Chairman of the District Executive Committee Sergey Chepik:
"I am confident," he said, "that art, music, and folk creativity unite people's hearts better than any political or economic alliances. May the holding of this festival serve the cause of strengthening high spiritual and cultural values."
Even a strong, but fortunately short, rain did not frighten the spectators. Traditional presentations of delegations and collectives, the kumavanne ritual, the musical and theatrical performance "Postavy Ball", a fire show, and a festive fireworks display took place.
The city fell asleep at midnight, anticipating new meetings, impressions, and acquaintances on Sunday – the final day of the festival.