Russian Holidays - Day of the Revival of the Balkar People

The month of March for many years was “black” for the Balkar people, reminiscent of the tragic events in their history. It was in March 1944 that Balkars were massively evicted from their native lands. During Stalin's times, the practice of forced relocation of indigenous peoples was common. In the case of the Balkars, the official reason for this was accusations of participation in collaborationist groups that defended the interests of the Nazis during wartime. According to unofficial information, it was planned to annex the territories liberated from population to Georgia. More than 37,000 people became forced migrants - adult men and women, children, and the elderly. Among the exported Balkars there were many leaders of various ranks and artists. Even the front-line soldiers who returned home, including those who received disabilities, were not spared the sad fate. People were transported in railway carriages unsuitable for this purpose. The vast majority of them did not have the opportunity to collect the things they needed on the road, including warm clothes. More than 500 people did not survive such a terrible trip. The operation to evict the Balkars took place in a short time, taking no more than two weeks. People subjected to deportation lost not only their homeland, but also almost all their acquired property. Sometimes lacking the most necessary things for arranging everyday life, they found themselves in new places of residence - in the Uzbek, Tajik, Kazakh or Kyrgyz SSR, in the Far North. After these events, the republic was renamed the Kabardian Autonomous Republic. Some of its regions were annexed to the Georgian SSR. The deported peoples received official permission to return to their hometowns and villages only after 13 years. This happened through the publication of a series of Decrees. At the same time, the Kabardian Republic was transformed into the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The latter was enshrined in the law of the local Supreme Council issued on March 28, 1957. This date was chosen for the holiday, established in 1994. The return resettlement lasted until the early 1980s. As a result, 90% of the evicted representatives of the Balkar people returned to their homeland. The celebration of Revival Day is quite large-scale, ceremonial and entertainment events are held throughout the republic. Concerts, sports competitions, exhibitions of works by photographers and artists, a car rally and a horse procession are obligatory on this day. In the evening they fire fireworks. The largest celebration takes place in the capital of the republic - Nalchik. Balkars spend most of this day with their family. They remember the tragic years for their people, listen to the stories of old people, and sit at the festive table.