- 12.09.2026 14:16
A Kaleidoscope of Cultural Flavors at Tula City Day!
A kaleidoscope of cultural flavors and cuisines from around the world was showcased on September 12 during Tula City Day at the Art Residence DKZH.
Tula residents and visitors had the opportunity to explore the cultures of various diaspora communities at the annual "National Quarter" festival of traditions and cultures.
A unique feature of this annual festival is that representatives from diverse cultures gather in one place to offer traditional dishes, invite guests to try on ethnic costumes, and share insights into their unique cultural heritage. The festival also serves as a venue for a concert program where diaspora performance groups showcase their talents.
Students from Tula State University—an institution hosting students from 70 different countries—traditionally participate in the festival. Naturally, they have plenty to share regarding the cultures and traditions of their home countries.
For the second consecutive year, international students from Tula State University have participated in the festival alongside their peers from the Leo Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University. This collaboration takes place under the auspices of the Tula Region International Friendship Club, based at the Tula Regional Youth Center. This center serves as a hub for international and Russian students, established to fulfill the Russian President's directive—issued following the 2024 World Youth Festival—to continue the "Cultural Patronage" program.
This year, three international student associations from our university—representing Vietnam, Cambodia, and India—took part in the festival. At the "National Quarter" interactive zone, within the International Friendship Club’s marquee, they organized exhibitions of cultural artifacts and everyday objects from their countries and offered participants and guests the chance to sample their national cuisines. There was plenty to sample—traditional Indian samosas filled with potatoes and peas, along with masala chai, proved to be among the event's culinary highlights.
The Indian samosa is a traditional dish consisting of small, triangular filled pastries; their crispy dough and spiced filling create a unique flavor combination. Masala chai is a beverage originating in India, made by brewing tea with a blend of Indian spices and herbs.
However, national culture encompasses more than just culinary delights and exhibitions of cultural artifacts and everyday objects. Representatives from the Indian student community prepared a lively performance for the festival: an energetic Indian dance titled "Yin-Yang." Meanwhile, students from the Vietnamese and Cambodian communities hosted engaging workshops for guests and participants throughout the event:
— a quiz titled "Tula: History and Modernity," organized by international students to mark Tula Region Day and honor the Hero City of Tula—celebrating the 880th anniversary of the regional center's founding, the 85th anniversary of the Tula Defense Operation, and the 50th anniversary of Tula being awarded the honorary title of "Hero City";
— a Vietnamese calligraphy workshop;
— a workshop on Khmer chess, known as "Ouk Chatrang."
Throughout the "National Quarter" festival, the international students from Tula State University were accompanied by their "buddies"—Russian students who serve as senior mentors to their international peers. This new project, launched by the Institute of International Education in collaboration with the TulSU Student and Postgraduate Trade Union Organization, is already yielding excellent results in facilitating the sociocultural adaptation of international students. The celebration concluded with an awards ceremony honoring diaspora groups and educational organizations. TulSU’s contribution to organizing and hosting the "National Quarter" festival was recognized with a letter of appreciation from Anastasia Alexandrovna Barinova, the Minister of Youth Policy of the Tula Region.
