The eighth edition of the International Intercultural Festival KARA ULÎS KURULTAI 2023, organized under the patronage of CNR-UNESCO, was held with great success in Venus-Mangalia, where it brought together in a Dobrogean space 500 international guests and a large audience of over two thousand people in love with culture who participated in the event.
In this edition, the festival saw the participation of 40 countries that gave a valuable contribution to intercultural dialogue, to the creation of bridges and special relations at international level, to the promotion of UNESCO heritage in a harmonious environment, full of joy and cultural diversity.
The Tatar Democratic Union achieved the goals of the proposed project with special appreciation from UNESCO and the festival embraced the ethnic cultural diversity in an intercultural space under the magic of intercultural dialogue, as a legacy that is transmitted from one generation to another, allowing young people and children to discover specific cultural values and traditional elements through culture, traditional games and sports, art, multicultural exhibitions, diverse international artistic performances, culinary art and traditional crafts directly from the source, thus celebrating the common heritage of humanity through protection, preservation and knowledge of UNESCO intangible heritage for the benefit of all.
Under the patronage and guidance of UNESCO Romania, the International Conference “UNESCO INTANGIBLE HERITAGE: PRESENT AND FUTURE” was held, attended by 48 countries from 4 continents (America, Africa, Asia, Europe) together with the UNESCO representative, Mr. Codrin Tăutu, as well as national and international representatives and officials. The challenges and obstacles faced by communities in the promotion and preservation of UNESCO’s intangible heritage and cultural identity were discussed, and the key vector for saving it was highlighted: cultural diversity, which can open new horizons of intercultural dialogue aimed at developing and preserving the heritage of humanity as a common good.
A unique launch of the UDT initiative to create a unique cultural center in Europe “Medieval Village KARA ULÎS” by starting a creative competition among young art and architecture students, intended to create a special project with new technologies under the traditional Tatar and Turkish magic which will be opened as soon as possible.
This year too we have demonstrated to the whole world that UDT can realize with a unique concept in Romania, a space where culture is a vector and a tool for human dialogue, promoting a unique interactive concept of culture, art, games and sports and a gastronomic show.
A weekend on the Turquoise beach in Venus, flooded with interactive activities that delighted and thrilled the audience and the Turkish-Tatar community with an incendiary show that culminated the party under the fireworks and the fire of the ancestors. Venus has become a place where differences bring enrichment, cultures and wisdoms mix, knowledge, ideas, life experiences, history and special stories are exchanged.
The localities of Medgidia, Constanta and Mangalia enjoyed the cultural march performed by the famous Ottoman Band from Bursa, the Ankara Ensemble, Maghiar Turan from Hungary, Kyrgyz and Kazakh ensembles and artists who delighted the audience with extraordinary artistic moments that transported them to a fantasy world where history, customs and art were harmoniously combined.
A special program of artistic performances crowned by the live concert offered by the legend of Central Asia – Arslanbek Sultanbek Ulȋ who delighted and moved the audience with his songs and the famous song Dombîra.
The surprises did not end and famous Crimean artists in exile due to the occupation of the Crimean peninsula (2014) by Russia delighted us with their program: Rustem Memet Uglȋ and Ghiulizar Bekir Kȋzȋ. Then our partner from Kyrgyzstan, Mrs. Toktogonova Mirabubu, contributed with 3 groups of artists and they amazed us with extraordinary songs and dances.
There were also our Hungarian brothers, the Turan Hungarian Foundation, who gave a demonstration of medieval fighting and presented different fighting techniques collected from Hungarian medieval folklore with a large group led by Gabor Kopenski. We remind you that we have a memorandum signed with the Turan Hungarian Foundation led by president Andras Biro and a special cooperation.
The medieval village with yurts brought together in a special ethnographic space the multicultural exhibition created by the Nokors group, the Maghiar Turan team, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, etc.
This year, UDT managed to organize 5 World Cups of traditional sports inscribed in the UNESCO heritage during the festival: Asyk Atuu, Tokyzkumalak/Toguzkorgool, Mangala, Arco istorioc and Kures.
A festival revived by the Tatar Democratic Union, started in 2017 with the participation of 4 countries, has developed and this year managed to reach the remarkable figure of 40 participating countries, ensuring the organization and realization of the professional event at a particularly high standard, being highly appreciated in the international festival circuit.
We appreciated the presence and special messages of the representatives of the embassies: Cuba, United Arab Emirates, Turkmenistan, Albania. Special presence also from Greece, which participated with an important delegation led by the president of the European Federation, Kurash Merabi Iliadis.
Turkish organizations rushed to help us as follows: the Confederation of All Crimean Tatar Associations in Turkey through a delegation headed by Mr. Umit Şilit, the Humanitarian Foundation of Crimean Tatars in Istanbul represented by Mr. Gelal Icten, Tatar organizations in Ankara and Bursa, Uyghur organizations from the Netherlands and Germany, international organizations based in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Moldova, Hungary, North Macedonia, etc.
In this event a special book was presented by the president of the Romanian Federation of Oina through Mr. Nicolae Dobre. Demonstrations of Yagli Gures organized by the president Hamid Bakja with two famous fighters, one of which is the Macedonian champion Ramazan Bakja.
We thank the UDTTMR Reorganization Committee for their support, which supported this event with heart and soul, proving that the Tatars are united.
KARA ULÎS KURULTAI 2023, the International Festival of Traditional Ethnic Cultures, has made a valuable contribution to the promotion and knowledge of the Turkish-Tatar ethnic culture and cultural diversity as a positive value towards intercultural education worldwide, the creation of intercultural dialogue and a space for coexistence in peace, harmony and love.
The festival aims to promote the meeting between different ethnic communities and nationalities, through different forms of cultural expression.
The message of the UDT is that the meeting between different cultures, peoples and humanity represents an opportunity and a wealth, an inestimable value.
We thank all the participants for their contribution and we are already preparing the next festival!
EDITORIAL TEAM
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