On May 24 in the territory of Geghard Monastery the Marz Final Phase of the Republican Recitation Children-Youth Sixth Contest-Festival held under the auspice of the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan took place. This year the festival was dedicated to Hamo Sahyan and Paruyr Sevak. The NA President Hovik Abrahamyan, the RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, deputies, Head of Kotayk Marz Kovalenko Shahgaldyan, figures of cultue, teachers, pupils and guests were attending the event.
The beginning of the final phase of the festival in Kotayk Marz was announced by live folk songs and music, folk dances and by the best reciters of this year. If in the first year of holding of this event their number was 3000, then this year that number reaches 180.000. Among the participants were the teenagers from Armenia, as well as Artsakh and Javakhk.
“I am in high spirits. I would like to convey to everybody. Six years ago 3000 children were taking part in the event, and the initiators will confirm that nobody predicted that today we’ll have such big number of participants. That is the result of the initiative, work of all of us. We don’t have oil, gas, but we have such generation, thanks to whom the RA will be among the most democratic, well-being, countries and not having social problem and emigration,” welcoming the participants said the NA President Hovik Abrahamyan. He gave a prize to the participants in two age groups, who occupied first places and enjoyed special prize.
“A work devoted to the Motherland is done. We should give high evaluation to the Head of the Parliament. Already 180.000 Armenian children not only read, but recite the Armenian genius’ poems,” said the NA deputy, jury member Tachat Vardapetyan. And as the day coincides with the Last Bell, the pupils who had registered success in the sphere of education received souvenirs. The Head of Kotayk Marz Kovalenko Shahgaldyan wished good luck to the graduates. Touching upon the very event, he said. “We hold the marz phase already for the sixth time. We have tried to make reality Hovik Abrahamyan’s initiative. It is aimed at awakening love of the younger generation towards book and literature. It succeeded. Here there are no winners and losers. The Armenian culture wins.”
The Republican Final Phase will be held on May 27.