Malaysia's Russian community celebrates day of family, love and fidelity

KUALA LUMPUR: The Russian community residing in Malaysia today celebrated the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity by installing floating colourful umbrellas in the compound of Russian House (formerly known as the Russian Centre for Science and Culture) in Kuala Lumpur.

The celebration, observed annually on July 8 by Russians worldwide, is a relatively new holiday in Russia (established in 2008) and is aimed at promoting traditional family values.

Director of the Russian House in Kuala Lumpur, Svetlana Kovaleva, said the installation of the floating umbrellas with hanging pairs of paper pigeons makes for a beautiful and memorable gift for the families of Russian compatriots currently living in Malaysia in the wake of the pandemic.

"This holiday is dedicated not only to all lovers, but to married couples who are trying to protect their loved ones from adversity, with the umbrellas symbolising how it protect us from bad weather.

"Let these beautiful, colourful umbrellas protecting the paper pigeons symbolise the married couples saved from the rain, and build strong family bonds," she said in a statement to Bernama.

-- BERNAMA