Spring in the City

Let me take you to a short walk from inside the Kremlin to the streets and views around it.

The pillars are portraits and stories of prominent artists - painters, musicians, singers, composer, writer, poets, playwright, actors & actresses who served and one of those considered heroes in the WWII. The posts are dedicated to commemorate them in connection with the Victory day celebration.

Outside Kremlin is the statue of Musa Dzalil who was a poet and a resistance fighter against fascists. He was caught and beheaded. 

Musa Dzalil's story of Bravery

Starting spring the carriage that goes around the Kremlin is now out ready for tourists.

The Kremlovskaya street is just across the gate of Kremlin. It goes down to the Kazan Federal University.

Standing on the Kremlin grounds you will see a view of the main roads where all public transports passes by to get to another point. 

Although the day was partly cloudy, the sky was still beautiful especially at the end of the day. A grand flock of birds flew by above me - it was wonderful!

After a bit of showers, I still manage to see the sunset. I was a bit late to catch the huge sun in its way down but I  was still lucky to witness the sky changed from day to evening.

Some of you might be already familiar with this dragon. It is the same dragon I've posted in winter. It is the symbol of the city located just outside and below the Kremlin wall.

I'm linking this post to:

Scenic Weekend

Our World Tuesday

A Day of Joy and Agony

Like I mentioned before, 9 May is a day of joy and agony. 

Tears of joy from the honour & overwhelming & gratitude given to the veterans.

But for them, what is more touching is to see people, children on the streets alive, happy & celebrating.

For the 70th anniversary of Victory Day, they took out new tanks to put on display at the Vicyory park. There was one in the city I live in too.

A veteran on his knees before the exact tank he used during the war. I can't imagine how he must feel at the very moment. It is a poignant picture.

It is a day of joy to celebrate the victory, to celebrate the life of those who survived, to celebrate the life of many which were made possible only after having won the war. 

Do not be fooled by their age for they, just as before, can show-off their impressive talent. And believe me, these great grandfathers know how to have fun!

(this is from the city I'm living in, Kazan)

It is a day to reunite with comrades, brothers in the service and friends. A day to recollect thoughts of those comrades who have fallen.

There is one symbolic part of the day which was called 100g. A plate of buckwheat with canned corned beef and a 100g of vodka were served as a symbolic memory of what soldiers were given to eat during the war. The Prime Minister took a part in this together with the veterans.

How lovely it is to see these brave men able to spend time and tell jokes to their grandchildren...

to listen to kids innocent stories,

mumbles & baby talk.

How nice it is for them to be able to hear a child's cry...

to be able to hold their grandchildren's hands...

to feel a child's kiss. 

Isn't  it beautiful?

Isn't it touching? I feel genuinely happy for them that they were able to live and enjoy life after surpassing years horrifying days.

But the sad thing about it is that year by year the number of veterans are becoming small. The seats are becoming less and less.

Victory Day is a dying tradition. 

The holiday continues, parade proceeds but the real essence of the celebration not having the veterans around will not be the same.

(note: pictures from different cities of Russia were taken from the internet )

Gratitude for the Victory & Bravery

Victory Day is also a day of the Veterans. It's a day when tribute is paid to them.  A program is held which highlights the military parade.

But the most important part of it is when the veterans parade at the middle where people can see them - the surviving heroes of WWII.

After the program, the veterans mingle with the crowd where people come and personally thank them.

Flowers, kisses, hugs, handshakes, greetings, conversation, smiles, photos, songs, are some ways people give or do to express gratitude. There are countless reasons and ways to be thankful to these people and to those whose lives were sacrificed.

"SPASIBO DEDU ZA POBEDI"

"THANK YOU GRANDFATHER FOR THE VICYORY"

DEDU is short for dedushka which means grandfather and it can refer to any elder man.

Some malls and organizations 

Children made cards and drawings, some businesses and other organizations provided walls indoors and outdoors where people can write messages.

These people and all other veterans in the world deserve this gratitude & recognition. It is too late to bring back the lives of those who parted but it is not too late to thank these veterans now that they still can feel, hear and see your appreciation. I have witnessed it happen.

It is very heartwarming to see that people actually care, for veterans, it is very gratifying. 

The Eternal Regimen

The Commemorative March of the Eternal Regimen was the highlights and the most important part of the 70th Victory Day celebration/commemoration in Russia.

Thousands of people in every city have taken part in the march bringing the portraits of their relatives who died during the WWII. 

As you probably know that Russia and the former USSR republics lost some 25 000 000 ++ lives in the war. It then will not surprise you to know that every Russian person you meet has someone in his family or someone he knows amongst the casualties of the war.

70 years passed but the sorrow it brought to every family is still strongly evident. People could not have forgotten a close relative passing away in such a tragic event.

Many of those portraits are parents, brothers, grandparents & great-grandparents to some.

It is heartbreaking to witness such march especially when you know many of them in the crowd. 

It is one thing when you just learn about it in history books. It is one thing when you just hear people talk about it. But it is another when you hear stories yourself from first hand witnesses, survivors and families of those who perished.

"NO ONE IS FORGOTTEN, NOTHING IS FORGOTTEN"

That's what they would tell you and that's  what the message they would like to convey.

The march halted at the eternal flame where people laid flowers, uttered prayers and stood in silence while watching the flame.

Flames can be very mesmerizing. If you stand in silence and stare at it, many thoughts will flourish into your mind ... especially philosophical questions about life & death.

Note: This is a different flame from the other war memorial I have posted before. There are at least 2 in the city. 

The pictures of many people holding portraits of their deseased loved ones are not my shots, I took them from the interenet since I didn't get a good chance to take photos myself. The rest however are mine.

I'm  linking this post to:

Our World Tuesday

WATW