The Ugra Rowboats Ethnofestival brought together indigenous peoples and foreign guests

On June 30, 2024, the Ugra Rowboats ethnofestival took place in Khanty-Mansiysk and brought together more than 3,000 residents and athletes. The venue for the event in 2024 is the Baybalakovskaya Bayou, located 30 kilometers from the capital of Khanty-Mansiysk.

“I am glad to welcome people who preserve traditions to the Ugra Rowboats. Rowboats are an integral part of the culture of the indigenous peoples of Ugra. Our sacred mission is to preserve and multiply their heritage,” Ruslan Kuharuk, Acting Governor of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra, addressed the participants of the festival.

Traditionally, the holiday began with an ancient ritual of worshipping the spirit of water, during which the shaman appeases the water spirit with national treats and offerings. After that, ritual arrows were fired into the water, which marked the beginning of the main event of the day, which is the competition for the Cup of the Governor of Ugra in rowing on rowboats. In 2024, 219 participants competed for the title of the best not only from Ugra and Russia, but also from Belarus, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan.

Competitions for the title of champion and winner of the Governor’s Cup of Ugra were held in several disciplines, including single races, mass starts, crew races (“threes” and “twos”), men’s and women’s relay races, international crew swim, race for children.

“We are a hospitable people. It is very pleasant that such a large number of athletes from friendly countries came to Ugra not only to participate in competitions, but also to learn about the traditions of the Ugra. Together we make a significant contribution to the preservation of the language, traditions and culture of those peoples who live and have lived for millennia on this earth,” Ruslan Kuharuk said.

Guests and participants of the international ethnofestival “Ugra Rowboats” were also waiting for a rich cultural program, within which dozens of creative, educational, and sports grounds worked.

It should be noted that the competitions for the Cup of the Governor of Ugra in rowing have been held in the region since 2001. Since 2015, they began to be held as part of the Khanty and Mansi holiday that is dedicated to worshipping of the water spirit Vit Khon. Every year, the event is attended by representatives of the peoples of the Finno-Ugric group and other foreign countries. For foreign guests, participation in the festival becomes an opportunity to get to know the culture and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the North better.