Prayer of elders and rituals with chain over the hearth: Ossetian wedding at the RUSSIA EXPO
A wedding according to national Ossetian traditions was held at the RUSSIA EXPO. The newlyweds are modern creative people: the groom Konstantin Khetagurov works as a cameraman and the bride Angelika Kardanova is a professional photographer.
"We don't perform weddings any other way, they are only performed like this, so it was extremely important for us. But we couldn't even dream of it, to have our wedding like this, in the center of Russia, in front of so many people. It's just a marvel, it's amazing", — said Konstantin Khetagurov.
At a traditional Ossetian wedding, the groom "hides" in the best man's house or at a neighbor's house and all attention is focused around the bride. At the ceremony, the newly-married wife is welcomed into her future home - her husband's house. This includes prayer by the elders, rituals with the chain hanging over the hearth and the lifting of the veil.
"We are grateful to our Republic and the RUSSIA EXPO for the opportunity to hold a wedding in national traditions, and we are delighted that we have been able to show the whole of Russia the beauty of our rituals. Come and visit us in Ossetia, you will be most welcome", — added his beloved Angelika Kardanova.
The wedding guests were shown a female invitation dance Khonga Kaft, a circular dance Tymbyl Kaft. During the ceremony there were also a wedding song Alai, the rite of treating with honey and oil, as well as other traditional actions associated with the appearance of the bride in the house.
"Thank you for sharing such an important event in life with the RUSSIA EXPO and with all our guests. We saw a very colorful and very interesting wedding ceremony. And, as my grandmother used to say, peace, harmony and prosperity to you! And, of course, love!", — joined in the congratulations Deputy Director General of the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"» Anastasia Zvyagina.
In total, more than 40 real weddings will be held at the International RUSSIA EXPO. Previously, employees of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, natives of the Republic of Tuva, Buryatia, Chuvashia and other regions got married here.
The event was part of the Final Forum of the International Volunteer Corps marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory.
