The head of Tuva, Sholban Kara-ool greeted the people of the republic with the bright holiday Shagaa, Lunar New Year:

“Respected co-citizens! My dear compatriots! Please accept my most sincere greetings with the bright holiday Shagaa – the Eastern Lunar New Year!

This holiday carries within itself customs and traditions of our ancestors, which are centuries old; it is a symbol of the unity and harmony of mankind with nature, which eternally renews itself, and of the triumph and victory of bright beginnings.

Kamby-Lama of Tuva transmitted his Shagaa greetings to the people of Tuva:

“Dear compatriots, people of our multiethnic republic! In the name of all the lamas and followers of the Buddha’s holy Teachings of Tuva, as well as from me personally, I greet you with the bright holiday of Shagaa – with the beginning of the Eastern Lunar New Year of the Iron Tiger!

Abnormally prolonged period of strong freeze has put the animal herders of Central Asian regions into a difficult position. For example, in neighboring Mongolia, already more than one million heads of cattle have died from cold and dzut (ground frozen so hard that animals can’t feed. hj). The weather has caused similar problems for the herders in several districts of Tuva. As of today, already more that one thousand heads of small horned cattle and about 300 of large horned cattle have died in the republic as a result of the deep freeze. Mostly this involves young animals born last year.