| Fizah HAB |
THE month-long photo exhibition, ‘Traditions of Islam in Russia’, was officially launched yesterday at the Dermaga Diraja Art Gallery in the capital.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman was the guest of honour.
Also present were First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council Rushan Abbyasov and Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Brunei Darussalam Vladlen Semivolos.
Also in attendance were Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, heads of diplomatic missions, senior government officials and representatives of the local business and academic communities.
In his welcoming speech, Semivolos said that the exhibition showcases the architectural heritage, lifestyles, traditions and customs of the Russian-Muslim community which accounts for 25 million people.
“The very fact that we are launching this exhibition today is of great significance,” he said, adding that “Bandar Seri Begawan becomes its first host-city before it sets off on a tour around the world, demonstrating the special value that Russia attaches to its brotherly and cordial ties with Brunei Darussalam.”
The display consists of eight sections each representing one of Russia’s eight federal districts: the Central Federal District, the Ural Federal District, the Siberian Federal District, the North Caucasus Federal District, the Volga Federal District, the Southern Federal District, the Far Eastern Federal District and the Northwestern Federal District.
Featuring 150 photos, the exhibition unveils the long history and wide geographical distribution of Islam in Russia – from one of the world’s oldest cities, Derbent, with its ancient mosque and the tombs of 40 companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to Bolghar’s ancient edifices; the 1,000-year-old capital of Tatarstan – Kazan; the mountain villages of the Caucasus; the vast territory of Siberia; to the beautiful land of Crimea.
There are currently 8,000 mosques in Russia, including the world-famous Moscow Cathedral Mosque, the Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan, the Great Mosque of St Petersburg and the Heart of Chechnya Mosque in Grozny.
Organised by the Russian Muftis Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam, the ‘Traditions of Islam in Russia’ exhibition is open to the public during working hours at 9am-5pm from Saturdays to Thursdays; and at 9am-11.30am and 2.30 pm-5pm on Fridays.