Georgia to celebrate two major milestones in 2016
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Next year Georgia will celebrate two major events; the 850th birthday of renowned Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli and the 25th anniversary of Georgia’s independence.
The Government of Georgia revealed the two occasions were of high importance and were worthy of special celebrations.
Today Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said special state commissions would be established to plan "worthy celebrations of the most important occasions”.
Next year is a special year as we celebrate the 850th anniversary of Georgia’s iconic poet Shota Rustaveli and the 25th anniversary of our independence. We should mark these significant dates appropriately and all the events scheduled for the occasions should be well-organised,” Garibashvili said, adding foreign guests and various delegations would be invited to attend the celebrations.
Georgia celebrates its Independence Day on May 26 each year. Photo by N. Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
While the commissions would be responsible for organising the two celebrations, Garibashvili said a range of state bodies, including the Prime Minister and President’s Administrations, would be involved in the activities of the organising group.
He also noted an appeal by Georgia’s Patriarch Ilia II to hold a gathering in Georgia and invite Georgian diaspora living abroad. Garibashvili said this was a good idea and the meeting would be held in the framework of festive events marking the 25th anniversary of Georgia’s independence.
Georgia gained freedom from the Soviet Union in 1991. Georgia was part of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic from 1922 to 1936 and then formed the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Before Georgia gained independence, many Georgian citizens attended local rallies to seek freedom from the Soviet Union. One main rally in 1989 was brutally dispersed by the Soviet army; 21 lives were lost and tens of hundreds were either injured or poisoned.
Meanwhile Shota Rustaveli was a 12th Century poet who penned the iconic poem The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.
Over the year the poem was translated into many foreign languages. Most recently, American translator Lyn Coffin made a perfect English translation of the legendary poem that mimicked the style, prose and pattern of Rustaveli’s original works.
See Agenda.ge Journalist Gvantsa Gabekhadze's wider report over the significant occasion here.
After the current state leadership came into power Tbilisi’s main airport was renamed after the poet and now bears the name Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport.
In four days’ time Georgia will celebrate the 97th anniversary of its independence.
Georgian Embassies around the world are celebrating Georgia’s 97th anniversary of independence.
Tbilisi International Airport has been given a new name in honour of one of the country’s greatest poets and contributors to Georgian literature.
For the past week a photo of British model Richard Biedul has been actively shared online by Georgian users for his resemblance with Georgia’s well known, 12th Century poet Shota Rustaveli.
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi celebrates legacy of famous poets
Georgia's capital Tbilisi will host a year-long program of literary events to mark the double anniversary of Georgia's iconic medieval poet Shota Rustaveli and celebrated English poet and playwright William Shakespeare.
Georgia’s Independence Day celebrations will see citizens, state agencies and entrepreneurs participate in country-wide activities themed after the anniversary of the birth of the iconic, 12th Century poet Shota Rustaveli next week.
Georgia is preparing to celebrate Independence Day on May 26 with a wide range of cultural, educational and entertainment activities that are planned in capital Tbilisi as well as regional cities.