KBSU students talked with representatives of the Dagestan diaspora about traditions, national clothes and cuisine

Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after H.M. Berbekov, meetings continue within the framework of the project “It is easy to love all of humanity, to love your neighbor the smart ones”, implemented by the University Center of Balkar Culture named after. K.S. Otarov.

On November 17, students plunged into the atmosphere of the southernmost republic of Russia at a meeting with representatives of the national cultural center «Dagestan». The chairman of the national cultural center «Dagestan», a member of the Union of Artists of the KBR and the USSR, Ibragim-Khalil Surkhaykhanov, the deputy chairman of the NCC «Dagestan», the head of the research laboratory of bioengineering technologies of the KBGAU Saligadzhi talked to the students about the life of the Dagestan diaspora in Kabardino-Balkaria, culture and traditions Kurbanov, Deputy Chairman of the NCC «Dagestan» Fatima Khadzhieva and a member of the diaspora Zhanetta Attaeva.

Friendship with your neighbor is something that is very important, especially in our difficult times. Dagestan is the largest republic in the North Caucasus, both in terms of territory and population. The name of the republic means «country of mountains». Dagestan borders on several states, the Great Silk Road passed through it, Derbent is the most ancient city in the Russian Federation. About 40 peoples live in the republic, 14 of which are recognized as indigenous. Each of the peoples has its own outstanding figures of education, science, culture, art, sports, — Ibragim-Khalil Surkhaykhanov introduced the republic.

The youth was interested in the similarity of traditions in the culture of the peoples of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria and how the Dagestan diaspora manages to preserve their native culture. The students were most curious about costumes, jewelry, wedding ceremonies and cuisine. In ancient times, there was a tradition to hide hair. The women’s headdress was sewn like a sack of black or brown fabric, tightly clasped the head on top, and was like braids in length so that not a single hair was visible. Ornaments were worn over or sewn to the headdress. Earrings were often worn not in the ears, but on a braid over a scarf, because natural silver is heavy. Jewelry had the meaning of amulets and was inherited, — said Fatima Khadzhieva.

Among the Dargins, for example, jewelry showed not only wealth, but also some family traditions, depending on how they were placed, — Saligadzhi Kurbanov explained.

As for wedding traditions, the guests noted their similarity among all the peoples of the Caucasus. For example, before the wedding, relatives must agree on the union of the young, prepare a dowry for the bride, give gifts to relatives, and so on. The students especially liked the custom of preparing khinkal by the bride on the second day of the wedding.

Zhanetta Attayeva spoke about the tradition and types of this dish: Avars have khinkal like lakumchiki, Laks have small thin strips, so that a good housewife can fit 20 pieces of dough in one spoon. There is also a shepherd’s khinkal — there large pieces of dough are torn off and sent to a cauldron with meat broth. Khinkal has a lot of species, and each nation has its own. In parting, the guests thanked the audience for their interesting questions and invited the students to visit Dagestan, and while traveling through the “country of mountains”, be sure to go to Derbent, Kubachi and Sulak Canyon.