On May 1, equestrian games were held in the village of Ergeninsky in the Ketchenerovsky district, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the founding of the “Geden Sheddub Choy Korling” monastery and the International Year of Gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

The event was opened by Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche, congratulating everyone present on the opening of the equestrian festival. According to Rinpoche, in 2020 the world community approved the period from July 6, 2020 to July 6, 2021 as the International Year of Gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. “In many countries and regions, a large number of events dedicated to the Year of Gratitude to His Holiness are being held during this period, and our equestrian festival today is also dedicated to this aspect,” the Shajin Lama said.

“For what do many countries and regions thank His Holiness? First of all, for his Teaching, which is filled with deep meaning, love and compassion, and also for promoting universal human values. For the fact that he makes enormous efforts so that there may be peace, harmony and respect among people on our planet. Today we thank the Dalai Lama for his attention, for his love for our people, for the fact that he devotes so much spiritual energy so that we can preserve our religion, culture and traditions,” Telo Tulku Rinpoche added.

As part of the equestrian festival, a large concert was held, featuring the “Oirats” State Dance Theater, People's Artist of Kalmykia Eduard Burlakov, and Honored Artists of Kalmykia Kutlan Mukubenov and Lidzhi Goryaev. The residents and guests of the village of Ergeninsky were also delighted by the creativity of Leonid Ochir-Goryaev and Felix Shorvaev.  An honored guest of the event was Zubarev from Veliky Novgorod, who performed the Kalmyk heroic epic “Dzhangar.”

On this day, in addition to horse races over various distances, competitions were held in Kalmyk national wrestling and archery. All the prize-winners and champions were awarded valuable prizes. The main prize of the event — a “Lada Granta” car, established by the Association of Buddhists of Kalmykia — went to Sanal Tsebikov from the village of Arshan-Zelmen.