Hand beating and chest buying: Udmurt and Vyatka weddings at the RUSSIA EXPO
Two colorful weddings were held on the same day at the RUSSIA EXPO - according to Vyatka and Udmurt traditions.
The first to officially seal their union were newlyweds from the Kirov region - design engineer Andrei Sivkov and student Maria Shishkina.
The guests were shown the rite of "hand beating". This is when the fathers of the bride and groom's families beat their hands, and after that the young people are considered to be bride and groom. The ceremony also included a Vyatka bachelorette party and a ritual of dowry.
"We have never imagined that we would be lucky enough to not only get married, but to celebrate our wedding at this huge amazing Exposition! The whole country is together with us now and is happy for us - it's very exciting and a great responsibility!" — shared Andrei Sivkov.
Also, senior lecturer Pavel Belkin and medical student Polina Ivanova from the Republic of Udmurtia got married according to the ethnic canons of their region.
In the Udmurts' view, the creation of a union between a man and a woman has long been considered the main event of human life, the duty and destiny of everyone. That is why they attach great importance to wedding traditions.
The guests of the exposition saw the preparation of dowry, the rite of dressing in a turban with a scarf as a symbol of the end of girlhood, the bride's crying and much more. The groom on the way to the future family life passed mock obstacles, bought a chest with dowry.
In total, more than 40 real weddings will be held at the RUSSIA EXPO. Previously, employees of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, natives of the Republic of Tuva, Buryatia, Chuvashia and other regions have gotten married here.
The international forum brings together representatives from more than 40 countries and six international organisations.
