The traditional Nowruz holiday was celebrated at Penza State University on Tuesday, March 22. PSU students from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan introduced all the guests of the event to the traditions of their countries. The invited participants of the holiday were representatives of the Regional Tatar national and cultural autonomy of the Penza region.

This year the Nowruz celebration included an exhibition of folk culture, tasting of national cuisine dishes, and a pilaf festival. A concert programme prepared by PSU international students and consisting of national songs and dances has become a good tradition.

The guests of honor of the celebration were: Dmitriy Artamonov, First Vice-Rector of PSU; Gleb Sintsov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs; Vladimir Simagin, Vice-Rector for Graduate Affairs and Employment; Zhigansha Tuktarov, Chairman of the Tatar national and cultural autonomy of the Penza region; Adelsha Rakhmatulin, Director of the Sports School of the Olympic Reserve in Boxing in Penza, Master of Sports of the USSR in Boxing; Olimjon Scherov, Chairman of the regional public organization "Tajik National Cultural Center of the Penza Region"; Adel Maqbol, Chairman of the International Students Association of the Penza Region.

In his welcoming speech, Dmitriy Artamonov, PSU First Vice-Rector, congratulated all students on the International Nowruz Day: “Its spelling and pronunciation may vary in different countries - some sources indicate Nowruz, others call it Navruz. This very holiday symbolizes the renewal of nature and man, the purification of souls and the beginning of a new life. And I am very glad that today we celebrate it in such a wonderful atmosphere.”

Gleb Sintsov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, emphasized the importance of holding national festivals at the university: “The value of Nowruz is in its national color, as well as in active cultural exchange between peoples. For international students, the organization of such national holidays helps to socialize in the Russian student environment.”

The nominations at the end of the festival were distributed as follows:

"The most colorful national platform" - the Tatar Autonomy of the Penza Region;
"The best presentation of national cuisine" - the Republic of Kyrgyzstan;
"The most diverse menu" - the Republic of Tajikistan;
"The best dish of national cuisine" - the Republic of Turkmenistan.

The winners of the Belt Wrestling Tournament «Kuresh», which took place on March 19 at PSU, were also awarded at the festival.