MINSK, 20 September (BelTA) - The small village of Karata in Dagestan, Russia briefly became a hub for enthusiasts of traditional Belarusian cuisine. On 20 September, the village hosted the Day of Belarusian Draniki (potato pancakes), BelTA has learned.
The history of this celebration dates back to September of last year. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko held a meeting with representatives of various ethnicities living in Belarus. Among the attendees was the chairman of the international public association Goro, artist and sculptor Khizri Asadulayev. It was he who proposed to the head of state the idea of organizing a Day of Belarusian draniki in Dagestan.
Khizri Asadulayev asked the president for a couple of kilograms of Belarusian potato varieties. To his surprise, he received around 100kg of the Pershatsvet potato variety, no less than two large sacks. The national vegetable of Belarus was planted in the mountains. The results exceeded the boldest expectations. Even the abnormal heat did not hinder the abundant harvest.
"The potatoes turned out splendidly. We tried boiling them and they were very tasty! We shared them with acquaintances, and they also noted the excellent flavor. Now, there’s no end to those who want to plant these potatoes themselves. They ask for at least a kilogram, or even just a few pieces," Khizri Asadulayev remarked with a smile in a conversation with a BelTA correspondent.
The draniki for the celebration were made precisely from the Pershatsvet potato variety. The event, by the way, is organized as a charity initiative - everyone is welcome to enjoy the treat. The draniki are served with Belarusian sour cream, ensuring the dish is as authentic as possible.
“We will give the remaining potatoes to everyone who wishes to plant them in their own gardens," Khizri Asadulayev said.
The Day of Belarusian Draniki truly became a large-scale event. Residents not only from Karata but also from neighboring villages came to enjoy the traditional Belarusian dish. The region is densely populated, and the distance from one village to another is literally within arm’s reach, rarely exceeding two to three kilometers. Walking such a distance to taste draniki made from the presidential potatoes was hardly the most challenging quest.
The organizers aim to make this celebration a tradition: according to Khizri Asadulayev, they have already secured support from the ministers of culture of both Belarus and Dagestan. Plans include inviting local and Belarusian artists to delight guests not only with culinary treats but also with a vibrant concert program.
The Day of Belarusian Draniki did not go unnoticed in Belarus. Warm greetings from the Belarusian leader to the organizers and guests were conveyed by the Press Secretary of the Belarusian President Natalya Eismont.
“This further strengthens and expands Belarusian-Dagestani friendship. It is a vivid new accent in Belarusian-Russian relations as a whole," Natalya Eismont stated.
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