An open lesson on “Russian Festivals” was held at the A. M. M. School in Chennai on February 13. It was dedicated to the Russian spring festival “Maslenitsa”, the Pancake week. The event was organized by the Russian Centre of Science and Culture together with the school administration.

The lesson was attended by Ms. Mahalakshmi, Principal, Ms. Devi Alagappan, Headmistress – Primary, Ms. Sarada Rao, HOD English department, Mrs. R. Bhuvaneshwari, Primary coordinator and employees of the RCSC Mr. A. Basha, Mr. A. Gafarov and Ms. Bharati as well as students of 4th standard and their teachers.

Opening the lesson Mr. Albert Gafarov spoke about popular and traditional festivals in Russia and how they celebrate it. He said Maslenitsa is the oldest surviving Slavic holiday, which is celebrated on the end of winter or the beginning of spring. This year Maslenitsa is celebrated from February 12 to 18. Then a video presentation “What is Maslenitsa” was carried out, during which Mr. Albert Gafarov spoke about each day of Pancake week, about different games and activities and about how the holiday ends with the burning of a straw effigy of ‘lady Maslenitsa’ – a symbol of Russian winter. And of course without “Bliny” (Russian pancakes) Maslenitsa is incomplete - children were offered traditional Russian pancakes.

Students, who are representing Russia this year in International Cultural Festival, prepared various crafts of Russian “Matryoshka the nesting dolls”, a drama about Russian Rivers and Russian Folk dance. They enthusiastically asked many questions about Geographical details of Russia, Russian culture, Flora Fauna and Trans Siberian Railway.

Also an exhibition of “Russian dolls in folk costumes” was presented to the children. And a documentary film about tiger - “Amba” the master of Ussuri Taiga was shown to the students.

On behalf of the school Ms. R. Bhuvaneshwari expressed her gratitude towards the RCSC.  In her address to the students, she said that Russia is not only rich in nature and culture but also strong in their high quality of education, space exploration and aircraft engineering, as well as in the development of peaceful atom technologies.