Maslenitsa traditional festival of Russia celebrated by Russian community in Kolkata & across India
Partha Roy
Maslenitsa week long traditional Russian festival symbolising passing of winter and arrival of the spring was celebrated in style by Russian community based in different cities in India including those based in New Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata. Maslenitsa began on February 20 and concluded on February 26, 2023.
In Kolkata, Mr. Maxim Aleshin Senior Consul, Ms. Irina Malysheva of Consulate General of The Russian Federation in Kolkata alongwith Mr.Sergey Sushin
Vice Consul and Director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture ( Gorky Sadan ) in Kolkata organised and hosted Maslenitsa festival at Gorky Sadan premises. Family members of Russian diplomats & others , including Russian scholars & others visiting West Bengal participated in the celebration alongwith a few Indians.
Russian celebrate Maslenitsa , the arrival of the Spring with abundance of food , drinks, music , dance, traditional games and full of merriment. Each day of the festival involves pancakes called ” Blini”, butter , and many indulgent toppings. ” Blini” is mainly made of white flour, butter, eggs and milk.
Maslenitsa mascot a straw
doll dressed in a female costume was burnt symbolising imminent end of winter. Maslenitsa contains both pagan and Christian tradition . Sunday is final day , day of forgiving when people forgive the wrongs done to them. Various philosophies behind rituals and practices in Maslenitsa find echos in historic celebration of Spring festival in Indic Hindu culture of celebration of Holi in India . Russian people look forward to new beginning in various spheres to celebrate Life!
