‘Such Events Make You Feel at Home’: HSE University Holds Day of Azerbaijani Culture

© HSE University

At the end of May, the HSE University Cultural Centre hosted the Day of Azerbaijani Culture, organised by the Azerbaijani Student Club. Festival guests sampled national treats, took part in a quiz with prizes, and immersed themselves in the festive atmosphere of a concert with music and traditional dancing. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Rahman Sahib oglu Mustafayev was the event’s special guest.

Azerbaijan is a country with centuries of traditions, music, dance, and poetry that have passed down from generation to generation. On May 28, Azerbaijan celebrated an important date—Independence Day. In 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first state in the Muslim world to recognise women's rights, was proclaimed.

Rahman Sahib oglu Mustafayev

© HSE University

Rahman Sahib oglu Mustafayev, who was at HSE University for the first time, stressed that the celebration organised at the university was an important reason for his visit. ‘I want to thank the administration of HSE University for the attention they pay to all national student communities. I think this is the right approach,’ he said.

Kirill Kisel

© HSE University

Kirill Kisel, Director for Internationalisation at HSE University, noted that the festival is ‘an important event for the university, indicating that students coming to HSE from different parts of the world do not forget about their home and culture.’ ‘I am glad that they all find friends and like-minded people here and keep on moving confidently through life together,’ he added.

Sabina Mamedova, second-year student of the Master's programme ‘Lawyer in Public Justice,’ is the chair of the Azerbaijan community at HSE University. She is certain that festival guests will remember the day as a vivid celebration of friendship, art, and the centuries-old heritage of Azerbaijani culture. ‘Azerbaijan is a country of fire, hospitality, and great history, where ancient traditions and modern life go hand in hand. In the modern world, where borders between countries are becoming more and more relative, culture remains the bridge that connects peoples, preserves their uniqueness, and at the same time opens the door to dialogue,’ she noted.

She also highlighted that more than 400 representatives of the Azerbaijani people, as well as other peoples whose families have found home in Azerbaijan, study at HSE University. ‘By talking about the culture of our country, we preserve its identity. In the era of globalisation, when popular culture erases national characteristics, it’s easy to lose touch with our roots,’ believes Sabina Mamedova.

Ayla Kuliyeva, first-year student of the Bachelor’s programme in Economics and Statistics, enjoyed the traditional cuisine and national dances. ‘This is important for students who study abroad. Organising such events makes you feel at home,’ she said.

Festival guests spoke to the HSE News Service about why it’s important to hold such events and not forget about one’s roots.

Guna Kuliyeva

To study in Moscow, we left our hometowns and villages and started to forget about our traditions a little. However, when we attend such events, our spirit is strengthened.

Ellada Nazarova

I want to know as much as possible about the culture of my people, as well as make new friends. This is a large-scale celebration today, and everything is interesting. It’s also important to learn about the cultures of other nations—it broadens our horizons and defines our worldview.

Roya Iskenderova

Such events are a great way to learn about different nations. Everyone at HSE University is friendly. I liked the interesting quiz and the concert, but most of all I like traditional dancing—especially when I go on stage myself and dance. It fires me up! At such moments, you can feel at home.