In the year of Tourism, Tourism Association was founded in Tuva. Today, its constitution was voted on by all the members of the constituent assembly – representatives of tourist firms, restaurant and hotel business, and cultural institutions. The Board of the Association was voted into office, consisting of 9 people and the President. The head of the firm “Alash-Tavel”, Orlan Kirov, the “corypheus of Tuva tourism” as his colleagues call him, was selected as the head of the Association.

The leaders of Moscow assigned land for building a Buddhist temple in Victory Park on Poklonnaya Mountain. This was announced by RIA Novosti, referring to the mayor’s second-in-command in matters of sport, tourism and interregional co-operation, Sergei Bailakov. The decision about building the temple was made several years ago, but difficulties arose with assigning the actual plot of land.

Monday was the first day after an almost two month period of -40 grade freeze, that the temperature rose to -25 degrees.

The elders say: “It is always like this after Shagaa.” In Lunar calendar, Shagaa is the start of the spring-summer season. Interestingly, this Lunar New Year fell on the same date with Maslenica, which is also a symbol of parting with winter. Regardless of the -40 degree freeze, the holiday activities yesterday on Museum Square of Kyzyl attracted great crowds.

Doctor of historical sciences,shamanologist, president of the shamanic association “Dungur”, Mongush Kenin-Lopsan, has sent his Lunar New Year greetings to the people of Tuva:

“Greetings with the New Year of the Tiger! Chaa chyl keldi!

Turning to the rising sun…

The human genius collected an anthology of horoscopes under the general title “Zvezdy i sudby” ( “Stars and Fate”). Every nation has its own variant – its own horoscope.

Tsagaan-sar, the holiday of White Moon (Shagaa in Tuvan) is one of the most beloved holidays in Mongolia. Besides the traditional athletic contests and holiday prayer services, a great concert, dedicated to the Lunar New Year, took place in Ulan-Bator.

This is the first time that this concert had international participation, including artists from Inner Mongolia (China), and the Buddhist republics of Russia.

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.

Exhibition of national dishes, contest for the tastiest pelmeni, best horse outfit, fastest speech, lifting rocks (kodured dash), mass sledding from hills, chess games, khuresh wrestling – all that will be going on in Tec-Khem kozhuun during the Lunar New Year celebrations. On the evening before Shagaa, which is coming with the first rays of the sun on February 14, “cholukshulga”, an ancient ceremonial expression of respect to the elders of the community takes place.

Amadu Mamadakov will come back to Tuva again

The poster of a Moscow theatre introduces him as Merited Artist of Republic Tuva, yet he has been to Tuva only once. He is a great teacher and a talented director, but he is mostly known as an actor. He lives and works in Moscow, but his whole soul belongs to Gornyi Altai. He was born in a tiny village, but the whole country knows him.

He is a son of his nation, yet all the Asian republics consider him one of their own. The list of works of Amadu Mamadakov, the Merited Artist of Republics Altai and Tuva shows many theatre roles, yet he is remembered for films “Zvezda” (Star) and “9 rota”.