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Russian Buddhists celebrated the onset of the new year according to the lunar calendar, according to the Mir24 TV channel. The holiday was celebrated by about two billion people in different countries. They live in China, in East Asia, they were joined by numerous diasporas in many parts of the world. The unfavorable epidemiological situation forced them to abandon festivities and other mass celebrations. Nevertheless, they tried to observe other traditions.
Russian Buddhists were congratulated on the New Year by Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to him, many peoples of Russia have been celebrating the holiday for many centuries. Lunar New Year is a symbol of the awakening of nature, inspires good deeds. The head of state noted that the Russian Buddhist community preserves and passes on to the younger generations ancient spiritual traditions and unique customs. He expressed gratitude to the Buddhists of Russia for the fact that they enrich the cultural and social life of our multinational Fatherland with their distinctive, educational, charitable initiatives.
The Northern capital joined the New Year holiday according to the Eastern calendar. One of the main symbols of the city - the Palace Bridge - will be illuminated with red lights for 12 days in a row in honor of the holiday. Governor Alexander Beglov recalled that this tradition existed for several years, and the townspeople always come to admire the lighting with pleasure. This year, 20,000 Chinese residents who are now in the city come to the bridge together with Petersburgers.
The Chinese New Year - Happy Spring Festival has opened in St. Petersburg for the 7th time. Events are held in offline, online and mixed formats. The festival has become a symbol of friendship between Russia and China. The Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China ranked the St. Petersburg festival as one of the 8 most important annual projects for celebrating the Chinese New Year in the world.
In Transbaikalia, where many Buddhists live, people go to the temple and to the astrologer for the holiday. They sum up the results of the outgoing year and try to find out what to expect from the new one. Due to the pandemic, residents of the region were advised not to go to the temple, but to pray online and send traditional donations via the Internet.
In Buryatia, the holiday began with a prayer service in the early morning. The broadcast of the rite from the datsans of the republic could be seen live. The grand opening of the White Month celebration took place in Ulan-Ude. A big concert was organized on the central square. Among its participants is Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug.
Russkiy Mir
