Spring Festival Maslenitsa in Oman! Welcome Spring the Russian Way!
A distinguished Russian delegation participated in the grand opening ceremony, including key representatives from federal and regional executive authorities of the Russian Federation. Among the honored guests were Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Andrey Malyshev, Deputy Chair of the Committee on External Relations of St. Petersburg Nizami Mamyshev, Minister of Culture of the Tula Region Tatyana Rybkina, and other dignitaries.
A Celebration of Cultural Exchange
'This year's festival was particularly special as it coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Oman. The largest event ever for the Russian Community. We hope this event served as a platform for fostering deeper cultural understanding and stronger bonds between our two nations. This event is for all residence of Oman along with all nationalities residing in the Sultanate and not limited to the Russian speaking community.' added Igor Egorov, Chairman of the Russian Community in Oman.
'Spring Festival Maslenitsa is not just a festival; it is an immersive cultural experience that allows people to connect with Russian traditions, history, and heritage. We were honored to bring this celebration to Oman for the third consecutive year and were delighted to welcome thousands of visitors,' said Anna Popova, Head of the Russian House in Oman.
Exciting Performances and Activities
The festival featured performances by renowned Russian ensembles such as the St. Petersburg Song and Dance Theatre "Moroshka" and the State Academic Honored Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Dagestan "Lezginka." Additionally, as part of the "Russian Seasons" cultural project, theatrical performances and traditional folk music concerts were showcased.
Attendees enjoyed a wide range of interactive activities, including:
-Learning traditional Russian folk dances
-Participating in cooking workshops featuring Russian pancakes and Eastern sweets
-Playing traditional Russian folk musical instruments
-Experiencing Russian folk crafts, including painting Matryoshka dolls and Filimonovo toys
A grand fair was also held, featuring authentic handmade products and souvenirs from both Russia and Oman.
Special Features & Partnerships
A highlight of the festival was a collaboration with the legendary Russian animation studio "Soyuzmultfilm," bringing to life beloved childhood characters in giant puppet form to delight audiences of all ages.
Additionally, an exclusive VIP Majlis was available for sponsors and distinguished guests to network and explore business opportunities.
The festival was made possible by the generous support of its sponsors, including Oman Oasis Water, the official hydration partner. Oman Oasis Water, a leading brand in the Sultanate, is known for its commitment to providing pure and high-quality drinking water to Omani residents, ensuring hydration and well-being in every drop.
Join the Celebration!
With an attendance of over 30,000 visitors, the Spring Festival Maslenitsa delivered an unforgettable experience filled with joy, tradition, and cultural exchange. The public participated in the festivities at Marsa Plaza in Al-Mouj on February 21st and 22nd.
The celebrations to be concluded on February 23rd with a special joint concert at Bait Al Zubair in collaboration with the Russian House.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
05-07-2025
- Observer
John Cena and Idris Elba team up for buddy movie 'Heads of State'
Actors John Cena and Idris Elba embark on a wild friendship journey in the comedy action adventure "Heads of State." Cena plays Hollywood action hero turned U.S. President Will Derringer, while Elba stars as the experienced and cranky British Prime Minister Sam Clarke, an army veteran. When a tense meeting between the two disparate leaders is followed by an attack that threatens to blow up the world order, they must come together to save the day. Cena and Elba, who also executive produced the movie, previously worked together on the 2021 superhero film "The Suicide Squad." "Honestly, our time on screen is effortless. He brings the best out of me and, in his words, I try to do my best to provide an environment where he can shine," Cena said at the movie's London premiere on Tuesday. "I love the friendship nature of this film," he added. The movie is directed by Russian filmmaker and musician Ilya Naishuller, who said Cena and Elba brought a realness to their roles. "They feed off each other as any good couple would, and they know how to argue together in such a way where this is the perfect combination of the American happy-go-lucky, optimistic president and the prime minister who is real about the job and how difficult it is," Naishuller said, adding he set out to make a summer blockbuster in the vein of the buddy action comedies of the 1980s and 90s. "The goal was, I want to do an hour and 45 of the highest quality entertainment I can do and just do a crowd-pleaser and make sure that the people sitting at home on July the 4th are going to be united and having a great time," he said. "Heads of State" also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the role of the pun-loving top MI6 agent Noel Bisset. "It was really different, because it was a comedy. Most of the action I've done has been in drama and thrillers," Chopra Jonas said. "I love my puns," she added. "I mean, listen, I love a good pun. You've got to be smart to be punny." "Heads of State" starts streaming on Prime Video on July 2. —Reuters
Observer
29-06-2025
- Observer
Oman showcases cultural heritage at Chechen University
MOSCOW: A special corner dedicated to Omani publications was inaugurated at the Chechen State Pedagogical University, as part of ongoing cultural cooperation between Oman's National Museum and the university. The event also marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation. The Omani Publications Corner aims to empower non-Arabic-speaking students specialising in Omani studies, providing them with rich knowledge of Oman's cultural and intellectual heritage. This initiative seeks to build bridges of understanding and strengthen academic and research cooperation between the two friendly nations. The collection features diverse cultural and educational books covering literature, language, history, science, media, arts, Islamic studies, geography and the environment. In parallel, the National Museum, through its Learning Center, organised a cultural programme in Muscat with the participation of 180 students from schools in the governorate. The programme aimed to introduce Omani students to Russian literature, showcasing literary and artistic works that highlight the depth of Russian language and culture, broadening students' cultural and intellectual horizons. Highlights included artistic performances and short plays inspired by the works of Anton Chekhov, one of the world's most celebrated playwrights whose works have been translated into over 100 languages. Students also enjoyed a special poetry and music performance titled 'Yesenin's Poetry: A Message from the Russian World to All Humanity,' honouring the poet Sergei Yesenin and emphasising universal human values that continue to resonate globally. Additionally, specialised workshops under the theme 'The Heritage of Our Ancestors' introduced traditional Russian handicrafts and arts, including the making of 'Matrushka' dolls - an iconic symbol of Russia - and carpets featuring Chechen motifs. An exhibition titled 'Rainbow of Crafts' showcased over 50 pieces of decorative and applied art, celebrating the rich cultural and artistic diversity of the Russian Federation. — ONA
Observer
23-06-2025
- Observer
Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran
Airlines on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. Cancellations in recent days to usually resilient aviation hubs like Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and Qatar's Doha by international carriers show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated. The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns. Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as "fluid", moved to cancel flights to Dubai through to Tuesday, having previously cancelled only its Sunday service. IAG group member Iberia cancelled Sunday's and Monday's Doha flights after making its own assessment, a spokesperson said. It has not made a decision regarding later flights. Air France KLM cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday and Monday, and Finnair cancelled flights from Doha until at least Tuesday. Kazakhstan's Air Astana cancelled flights to Dubai on Monday. However, some international airlines were expecting to resume services. Flightradar24 departure boards show British Airways, owned by IAG, was set to resume Dubai and Doha flights on Monday after cancelling routes to and from those airports on Sunday. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Added to increased fuel and crew costs from these long detours and cancellations, carriers also face a potential hike in jet fuel costs as oil prices rise following the U.S. attacks. Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group said it is getting a small number of customer requests to route journeys to Europe away from Middle Eastern hubs. "The most common transfer hubs that we're seeing requested are Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Johannesburg, or even direct between Perth and London," said Graham Turner, CEO of Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group. AIRSPACE RISKS Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines, as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic. Location spoofing and GPS interference around political hotspots, where ground-based GPS systems broadcast incorrect positions which can send commercial airliners off course, are also a growing issue for commercial aviation. Flightradar24 told Reuters it had seen a "dramatic increase" in jamming and spoofing in recent days over the Persian Gulf. SkAI, a Swiss company that runs a GPS disruption map, late on Sunday said it had observed more than 150 aircraft spoofed in 24 hours there. Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region. This could raise additional airspace risks in Gulf states like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it said. In the days before the U.S. strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines and Air Canada did the same with flights to Dubai. They have yet to resume. While international airlines are shying away from the region, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are tentatively resuming some flights after widespread cancellations. Israel is ramping up flights to help people return home, and leave. The country's Airports Authority says that so-called rescue flights to the country would expand on Monday with 24 a day, although each flight would be limited to 50 passengers. From Monday, Israeli airlines will start to operate outbound flights, the authority said. Israeli airline El Al on Sunday said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day.
