Tbilisoba is a friendship festival of sister cities
At the festival of Georgian culture in Kyiv the dreams of Parajanov were painted and 1,000 khinkali were made
On October 4 through 5 the third festival of Georgian culture Tbilisoba was held in Andriivsky uzviz in Kyiv. For Georgians Tbilisoba is the day of Tbilisi, the festival of harvest, and one of the brightest calendar events in Georgia. And Tbilisoba in Andriivsky uzviz, according to the organizers, is Kyiv’s love confession to Georgia. From morning till night Georgian music bands and dancing ensembles were performing, and Georgian cooks treated everyone willing to national dishes.
This year the stage of Tbilisoba in Andriivsky was located in the upper quarter of the street, somewhat lower than St. Andrew’s Church. The bands Iberieli, Iberia, duo Saperavi, Gorgisheli, MiklukhoMaklai, as well as Lado Dongvani, David Dzhimitashvili, Keti Shamugia were taking part in the concert program.
In addition to the traditional concert program an artistic part was held, including the launch of the exhibit “Parajanov – Dreams of the 21st century” and joint painting of one of the walls in Andriivsky uzviz in Tbilisoba style. The exposition of Parajanov’s dreams was organized by the art group VacciNation, including Marianna Tarish, Valerii Kopysov, and Serhii Sierko. Unlike the exhibit “Parajanov – Dreams of the 21st century,” everyone willing could join the painting of one of the walls in Andriivsky uzviz in Tbilisoba style. Several hours later a jolly picture of a Georgian banquet appeared on the wall with inscriptions “Crimea is Ukraine,” “Georgia+Ukraine,” “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!” and “Luhansk.”
A Great Feast of Georgian Food was held within the framework of Tbilisoba in Andriivsky uzviz. The organizers arranged a grandiose flash mob with Georgian chief cook Paata Kuchava at the helm. Everyone could join the action of making 1,000 khinkali. “Mood is the main receipt for making khinkali. Is everyone in good mood?” Kuchava asked from the stage. Though the number of made khinkalis at the festival was less than a thousand, but the process left the visitors with unforgettable impressions.
Tbilisoba also had a literature component, namely the launch of new translations of Georgian authors within the framework of the literary program in the Ivan Kavaleridze Workshop Museum, organized by literary portal LITFEST. The curators of the presentation Polina Horodyska and translator Gio Arabuli presented three modern novels in Ukrainian translation: A Walk to the War by Aka Morchiladze, Escape from the USSR by David Turashvili, and War Game by Basa Janikashvili. The presentation was attended by Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to Ukraine Mikheil UKLEBA.
“Today we are celebrating the Georgian city holiday Tbilisoba,” commented Mikheil Ikleba to The Day. “Of course, we would like to bring part of this holiday to Kyivites in such a difficult time, so that they could feel that life goes on and good will for sure defeat the evil. Music, songs, and wine create festive mood. But apart from that we are presenting today three serious books and everything they write about have a ring of your and our current situations. Unfortunately, these processes are still not over. The struggle for freedom is underway. But we will for sure win, because the truth is on the side of Ukrainians and Georgians.”
