On February 22, 2026, the island-town of Sviyazhsk welcomed over 50 international students from Kazan Innovative University, hailing from Colombia, China, Iran, and other corners of the world. The grand celebration of "Sviyazhsk Maslenitsa" became a true immersion into centuries-old Russian history and culture for them.

Visiting Sviyazhsk is an important part of the cultural and educational program for international students in Tatarstan and makes a significant contribution to promoting the culture and history of Russian civilization among foreign students of Kazan Innovation University. For them, it is a unique opportunity to get acquainted with Russian cuisine dishes and subsequently taste them, learn about the traditions and culture of the people whose language they are studying, discover the history of the island-town of Sviyazhsk, and understand its contribution to the development of the Russian state.

As part of the rich program of the "Sviyazhsk Maslenitsa" festival, students visited the Museum of Archaeological Wood "Tatarskaya Slobodka," where they could touch the history of the region and participate in an interactive program with artists playing the gusli, keeping the rhythm of folk tunes on Russian musical instruments.

During the Maslenitsa procession along the main street of the island-town, the students became part of a large circle dance that united people of different nationalities, cities, and ages.

A special event was a workshop on weaving a book that contained various Maslenitsa recipes. Under the guidance of a craftswoman, the students learned basic bookbinding techniques and decorated the covers, taking home not just a souvenir, but a piece of Russian tradition.

The diverse program allowed each student to find entertainment to their liking: tug-of-war, lifting a wooden kettlebell, singing ditties and folk dancing on Rozhdestvenskaya (Nativity) Square, and many other ancient Russian games. The culmination of the festival was the traditional burning of the Maslenitsa effigy — an ancient ritual symbolizing the farewell to winter. For most international students, this spectacle was something new, and its scale left an indelible impression on them.