"Goryanka of the Year" contest reminds of Dagestan people's traditions

Almost 170 applications had submitted for participation in the ethno-contest "Goryanka of the Year" ("Goryanka" means a highlander woman, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"). The winner was Fatima Magomedova from the village of Ratlub, Shamil District. The organizers and participants have noted the value of such contests for preserving the traditions of Dagestani nations and the interest of young people in them.

The contest final was held on May 29 in Khasavyurt. According to Fatima Abdurakhmanova, one of the organizers and the head of the "Goryanka" Association of Dagestani Women, one of the main selection criteria at the first round was the contestant's naturalness.

"The main goal of the contest is to preserve Dagestan traditions and the highlander woman's unique image ... During the preparation, each contestant studied the traditions of her village; some have recreated national costumes by old photographs and old-timers' stories," Ms Abdurakhmanova has added.

According to her story, the main goal was "to show that the highlander woman is not a frightened creature sitting at home, but a woman who is respected."

Such contests help preserving the culture, says Raziya Suleimanova, one of the participants, from the village of gunsmiths Kharbuk in Dakhadaev District. She herself studies the artificer's business in order to further educate the younger generation.

Patimat from the village of Sildi, Tsumadin District (the birthplace of Khabib Nurmagomedov, an UFC champion), has noted that she wants her village to be known not only as the homeland of strongest athletes, but also about the traditions it has. The girl herself made a national costume for the contest, restored by old photos and great-grandmothers' stories.