The open festival of the Chukhash of Zakamye of the Republic of Tatarstan "Uchuk" has been held near the village of Staroye Surkino of the Almetyevsk municipal district since 2007.

The name of the festival was given by the Uchuk rite of the same name. Starosurkinskoye rural settlement is unique in that many ancient customs, traditions and religious beliefs of the unbaptized Chuvashes living here have been preserved in their original form and get along well with the 21st century.

This is confirmed by the “Uchuk” rite, dating back to the religious period of humanity. He is a field prayer with a great sacrifice. The elders of the village in their address to the supreme god Tura of peace ask for peace and prosperity for all those who live in the land of Starosurkinskaya, for those who have come to try ritual porridge.

The main part of the Uchuk rite is held before the opening of the festival. Its culmination part is the distribution of ritual food (porridge, meat) to all those present.

The venue of the ceremony and the festival are combined into one cultural and historical space on the mountainside, descending to the village of Staroye Surkino, where the ceremony was held since ancient times. Magnificent terrain gives a special mood to what is happening, a special flavor. Everything is visible in full view: the village, the forest to the horizon.

The Open Festival of the Zakamye Chuvash of the Republic of Tajikistan “Uchuk” is unique and the only of its kind on the territory of the Russian Federation. It is a fragment of the culture of unbaptized Chuvash, not modified since ancient times, with the active participation of young people in national costumes, who with pleasure communicates in their native language. The festival is characterized by an abundance of both the participants and the audience in the old original, as well as stylized national costumes.

The basis of the festival program consists of performances of amateur folk groups and soloists from various regions of Tatarstan, the compact residence of the Chuvash. In different years, the guests of Uchuk were the pastor from Florida with a group of tourists, the Chuvash from Israel, and the Bulgarians. Since 2010, museums of local history and ethnography, as well as craftsmen and craftsmen have been indispensable participants of the festival.

The atmosphere of friendliness, good mood, prevailing at the holiday, are evidence that the Uchuk Festival successfully implements its goals. The festival program allows more and more people to touch the cultural heritage of the Chuvash people in all its wealth and diversity. Special attention is paid to the participation of youth groups and soloists, which contributes to a deeper understanding and awareness among children and young people of their spiritual and moral roots.

The program of the XIII Open Festival of the Chuvash of Zakamye of the Republic of Tatarstan "Uchuk":

06.00 Rite "Uchuk" ("Field praying")

10.00 Grand opening of the festival.

Rituals of small form with the participation of folk groups.

11.00 Speech by creative teams.

13.00 Ritual appeal to the "Tour" (Main God)

14.00 Festivities

15.00 Closing of the festival.

The work of children's and sports playgrounds - during the day.

Age restrictions for participation in the festival - not available. Pricing policy - 200-1500 rubles per person

Sights: On the territory of the Starosurkinsky rural settlement of the Almetyevsk municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan, tourists can visit the hut museum (chavash surche), where elements of the life of unbaptized Chuvash of the early 19th century are recreated. Guests are met by the hostess of the hut and her assistants in authentic original costumes, offering to take part in gatherings, listen to Chuvash songs and play games. It is also proposed to visit the places of Kiremet, Yrsam (sacred sites), a pagan cemetery with the burial place of the ancestor of the cemetery Matryona. City tour of Almetyevsk - the oil capital of Tatarstan.

Accommodation facilities: Hotel Neftyanik, Hotel Voskhod