Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev take part in the celebration of the Izge Bolgar Dzhieny

On May 19, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev, the Chairman of the Russian Muslims Spiritual Board Talgat Tadzhuddin, the Mufti of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin, the Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Kirill and also other religious leaders of Russia.

Welcoming the guests of the holiday, Minnikhanov emphasized that this week the capital of Tatarstan hosted the 15th KazanForum, which brought together a large number of participants from Muslim countries.

He also said that today’s festival is held on the sacred land, where our ancestors voluntarily adopted Islam in 922.

Shaimiev said that today the reborn Bolgar is again a centre of attraction for authoritative theologians, statesmen and public figures, people of culture and science. Tourism is developing, museums and Bolgar Islamic Academy are successfully operating.

After the opening ceremony of the Izge Bolgar Dzhieny, Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev visited the Cathedral Mosque of Ancient Bolgar and took part in the noon Namaz. They also visited the festive marquees of the Russian Muslims Spiritual Board and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Tatarstan and watched the finals of the international waist wrestling.

In total, over 20,000 people attended the “Izge Bolgar Zhyeny” holiday this year.