05 May 2025
Hıdırlez in Kyiv: Reviving the Tradition of Ukraine’s Indigenous People
On May 3, the Hıdırlez celebration—one of the most significant holidays in the cultural calendar of the Crimean Tatar people—was held at Squat 17b in Kyiv. This marked the first public celebration of Hıdırlez in the capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The holiday, which symbolizes the end of spring fieldwork, the beginning of a new agricultural cycle, and the renewal of connection with the land, holds special importance for the Crimean Tatars. Its rituals traditionally include elements of competition, hospitality, music, and family gatherings.
The event took place within the framework of the Saba Qavesi cultural project, which supports and promotes the heritage of the Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks amid the temporary occupation of Crimea. It brought together members of the Crimean Tatar community, Ukrainian citizens, representatives of the diplomatic corps, government institutions, and civil society organizations.
The celebration began with an educational segment—lectures on the history and symbolism of Hıdırlez delivered by Esma Adzhieva (ALEM NGO) and Oleksii Savchenko (National Museum of the History of Ukraine). Speakers emphasized how the holiday helps preserve collective memory and transmit cultural continuity, even in exile.
The musical program blended tradition and modernity: performances by the bands Yevshan Zillya and Stantsiia Syvash, a Crimean Tatar ensemble featuring Diliaver Osmanov, Shevket Zmorky, and Ernes Osmanov, instrumental sets by Dzhemil Komurdzhy, as well as electronic DJ sets from Reshat, Elmar, and SAWRAS. Thanks to the SHUM.RAVE NGO, this rhythm never broke—carefully shaping the atmosphere throughout the event.Guests had the opportunity to take part in an open training session in the traditional wrestling style kuresh, enjoy plov cooked over an open fire by the Crimean Front NGO, taste Crimean Tatar sweets from the Musafir restaurant, and drink Takava coffee brewed in sand. The event concluded with the kalakay rite—a ceremonial bread-lowering that “asks” the earth about the upcoming harvest. The kalakay landed face up, which, according to tradition, is interpreted as a sign of prosperity to come.
A particularly meaningful moment was the participation of recently released political prisoners—Nariman Dzhelyal and Leniie Umerova. Their presence in the shared circle served as a powerful reminder that the struggle for the release of all illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens continues.
During the event, official representatives also delivered speeches. The Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Olha Kuryshko, emphasized:
“It is especially important to support the traditions of the Indigenous people of Ukraine while Crimea remains under occupation. This is essential for preserving the connection with the peninsula and ensuring the continuity of Crimean Tatar culture. It now has the opportunity to take root in new conditions, expand its space for engagement, and become an integral part of the public and intercultural dialogue.”
Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov, emphasized the political significance of such events in his address:
“The world must understand clearly: our return, just like the liberation of Crimea, is inevitable. It will happen. Holding events like this is also a way to show everyone that Crimea is the homeland of the Indigenous Crimean Tatar people. This is our land. Crimea is an inseparable part of the Ukrainian state, and no one in the world has the right to decide its fate except Ukraine and the Indigenous Crimean Tatar people.”
He also reminded the audience of the Crimean Tatars currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and urged people to support them not just symbolically, but through meaningful action. The event also served a charitable purpose: all funds raised were donated to support the Crimean Front initiative, specifically for the purchase of three Mavic 3T drones for reconnaissance units of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
The celebration was organized by the media initiative CrimeaDaily, the cultural space Squat 17b, the Crimean Tatar media outlet Cemaat, and the united initiative Crimean Front. Through their collaboration, the event gained widespread public resonance, combining cultural, civic, and charitable dimensions.
Co-organizers included the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and the Office of the Crimea Platform. Their participation underscored the political and cultural importance of Hıdırlez as a symbol of the continuity of the Indigenous people under occupation and their inextricable connection to Ukrainian statehood.
The event was made possible with the support of partners who provided material, technical, and content assistance: the state enterprise Crimean House, Qirim Media, TRO Media, the Crimean Tatar restaurant Musafir, the TAKAVA coffee shop, and the civic organization SHUM.RAVE.