Miasnoutyan Dzaradoung!
Well, well, what a time was had yesterday!
So, I get invited by the good-old Armenian Volunteer Corps, with which I've had plenty of good times before, to go on Sunday to Gyumri and participate in the "Miasnoutyan Dzaradoung" (roughly, "the Tree-Planting of Unity").
This was being organised by the Nig-Aparan Patriotic Union (here's a report on it - http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/archive/45931.html), the very same organisation that put together the "Miasnoutyan Shourchbar" ("Dance of Unity") around Mt. Aragats on the 28th of May last year. It is headed by Aghvan Hovsepyan, who is the present Prosecutor-General of Armenia.
As usual, it was an eclectic, if all-Armenian group, with nine hayrenagitsner from Armenia, Syria, Bolis (Istanbul), France, the States and, well... me.
Going by regular marshrutka, we reached Gyumri's "Mayr Hayastan" statue before noon, but, most unfortunately, we were too late; all the trees had already been planted. It was a minor setback, because the participants were still around, and the celebration was in full swing, with a reasonable crowd and music blaring beyond full volume, of course.
After a short exploration of the surroundings, particularly the old, round, black Russian fort, we joined the group in their fancy bus and ended up at the real party. And WHAT a party...!!!
I mean, I've been to Armenian kefs, to be sure, but this one was either really the biggest one I've ever attended, or, after the long winter, with the onset of the tourist season and so on, this one was the first big one I'd seen in a while, so maybe that's why I'm impressed.
Anyway, it was at a fancy, almost-completed new big restaurant in town, maybe a hundred people, perhaps more. The area was large, and terraced, but indoors, with a stage, too. Plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and plenty of music.
The large central table was occupied by the big shots, including Mr. Hovsepyan, and this one character who kept getting up and making genatses (toasts) in a VERY loud voice. It reminded me of that crocodile character in Disney's "Robin Hood" cartoon; really, the guy did very well, most impressive, without having to resort to a microphone. He was like a TYPICAL local, though, albeit dressed in white, and with a cap that made him rather reminiscent of chauffeur. But he was loud, so very loud, and then he got up on stage and began to sing and sing and sing... Finally, I ask someone, "Who is this character, anyway ?". As I'm sure some of you reading may have already guessed, I forgot the chap's name, but he was the right honourable Mayor of Gyumri. :-)
What started as a day of ecological and patriotic activity, ended up as a day of partying and patriotic activity. There was dancing, and then there was "miasnoutyan shourchbar" dancing; the place was large, so there was room enough to bring together most of those gathered in a pinky-to-pinky small-scale rendition of last year's "dance of unity".
So, a Sunday keffing it up with Armenia's Prosecutor-General. Every time I think I've seen, know and done it all, a new surprise awaits... What more could this country and life in this country throw at me ? Keep 'em coming, that's all I can say...!
So, I get invited by the good-old Armenian Volunteer Corps, with which I've had plenty of good times before, to go on Sunday to Gyumri and participate in the "Miasnoutyan Dzaradoung" (roughly, "the Tree-Planting of Unity").
This was being organised by the Nig-Aparan Patriotic Union (here's a report on it - http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/archive/45931.html), the very same organisation that put together the "Miasnoutyan Shourchbar" ("Dance of Unity") around Mt. Aragats on the 28th of May last year. It is headed by Aghvan Hovsepyan, who is the present Prosecutor-General of Armenia.
As usual, it was an eclectic, if all-Armenian group, with nine hayrenagitsner from Armenia, Syria, Bolis (Istanbul), France, the States and, well... me.
Going by regular marshrutka, we reached Gyumri's "Mayr Hayastan" statue before noon, but, most unfortunately, we were too late; all the trees had already been planted. It was a minor setback, because the participants were still around, and the celebration was in full swing, with a reasonable crowd and music blaring beyond full volume, of course.
After a short exploration of the surroundings, particularly the old, round, black Russian fort, we joined the group in their fancy bus and ended up at the real party. And WHAT a party...!!!
I mean, I've been to Armenian kefs, to be sure, but this one was either really the biggest one I've ever attended, or, after the long winter, with the onset of the tourist season and so on, this one was the first big one I'd seen in a while, so maybe that's why I'm impressed.
Anyway, it was at a fancy, almost-completed new big restaurant in town, maybe a hundred people, perhaps more. The area was large, and terraced, but indoors, with a stage, too. Plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and plenty of music.
The large central table was occupied by the big shots, including Mr. Hovsepyan, and this one character who kept getting up and making genatses (toasts) in a VERY loud voice. It reminded me of that crocodile character in Disney's "Robin Hood" cartoon; really, the guy did very well, most impressive, without having to resort to a microphone. He was like a TYPICAL local, though, albeit dressed in white, and with a cap that made him rather reminiscent of chauffeur. But he was loud, so very loud, and then he got up on stage and began to sing and sing and sing... Finally, I ask someone, "Who is this character, anyway ?". As I'm sure some of you reading may have already guessed, I forgot the chap's name, but he was the right honourable Mayor of Gyumri. :-)
What started as a day of ecological and patriotic activity, ended up as a day of partying and patriotic activity. There was dancing, and then there was "miasnoutyan shourchbar" dancing; the place was large, so there was room enough to bring together most of those gathered in a pinky-to-pinky small-scale rendition of last year's "dance of unity".
So, a Sunday keffing it up with Armenia's Prosecutor-General. Every time I think I've seen, know and done it all, a new surprise awaits... What more could this country and life in this country throw at me ? Keep 'em coming, that's all I can say...!
posted by Nareg at 1:20 PM
4 Comments:
I wonder from where the money for such activities come from? Corruptions and the corrupt are enemies of the people from inside, worst than the external enemies. When critical times come those are the people who will vanish first.
Hopefully the Mayor of Gyumri didn't shoot anyone this time.
Nareg, if somebody tells you that you basically sat at the same table with the world's wealthiest prosecutor and most roguish mayor, don't believe them. Aghvan Hovsepian made his immense fortune by thoroughly honest means, while Gyumri Mayor Vartanik is not a mentally deranged crook despite claims to the contrary made by Armenia's pro-Turkish media. Nor does Vartanik's son regularly beat up those who dared challenge his father in the recent mayoral election.
So you are definitely right in thanking God for the unique chance to party with those two Armenian patriots. Thanks to their tireless efforts Armenia will in no time become an oasis of greenery in the region. Thank God, there are diasporans who realize this.
Patriot, It is May 1 not April 1 but i still percieve your comment as an April 1 one. :)
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