Buranovskie Babushki may become Udmirtia's tourist brand

The authorities of Udmurtia are discussing the possibility of using the brand Buranovskie Babushki (Grandmothers of Buranov) for attracting tourists to the republic, informs Interfax-Povoljye. Preliminary negotiations on general usage of the brand for promoting Udmurtia Republic were held”, - reported the Region's Minister of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism Igor Krasnov. The official hopes that this idea will possibly "brought to earth and the team itself, its name, its image, could be used to present Udmurtiya as the region attractive for tourists". It will be trips to the places where the grandmothers live; tourists will find out what they do and where their roots come from.

The minister also noted that the band's successful performance at Eurovision has already aroused tourists' interest towards Udmurtiya and the local culture. And their focusing on the national culture will make tourist sites of the republic more interesting for travelers, considers the minister.

“Buranovskie Babushki are proud of their national costumes. In their opinion, none of the modern designers can make any of the embroidered and woven clothes which they got from their parents, says Uznayvse.ru.

Babushki, who unexpectedly were chosen as contestants for Eurovision-2012, come from small village in Udmurtia. Even after becoming popular they don’t leave their villages, keep their houses, nurse their grandchildren, and perform at a local recreation centers. The design of the traditional dresses in which grandmothers appear on stage, remained from time immemorial.

The eldest from the team is 76-year-old Galina Koneva. Commenting on her outfit she told us: “My dress and apron are at least one century old. They were sewed of linen self-woven material, maybe that’s why they preserved its original appearance. Traceries on the apron are woven, and here’s the embroidery. The headscarf is decrepit – it’s at least 200 years old! As all other grandmothers, I inherited these clothes from my mother, and she obtained it from hers, my grandmother. Now none of the modern designers can contrive to make such clothes”. National clothes played its role in formation of the image of the ensemble. Not only Udmurtia, but the whole Russia is now proud of Buranovskie Babushki.

The Grandmothers can not only sing and dance. As well as all other women they cook well and like needlework. The latter is the most important. It’s known that any kind of needlework positively influences nervous system of a human body. For example today’s famous beads embroidery is especially enjoyed by the good hands. Icon embroidery has become very popular lately. The result of such work brings happiness not only the embroiderer, but to her nearest and dearest as well, and of course it makes a wonderful gift or adornment for any house interior.