Once a year visitors from all over Russia flock to the village of Ust-Tsilma in the Komi Republic; expert ethnographers, history-lovers and floods of tourists come here to see something you can’t find anywhere else: The celebration of the traditional Russian holiday Gorka. There was a time when Gorka was celebrated in all Russian towns and villages, but nowadays Ust-Tsilma is the only place where the tradition has been preserved. The Gorka holiday can be compared with Atlantis, the legendary island that suddenly surfaced from the bottom of the ocean. It is an authentic piece of Ancient Rus’ that has miraculously been preserved and is rooted in pre-Christian times. In olden times, all of the aspects of folk festivals had a deep meaning associated with the life cycle of the Russian village, a place whose symbolism nowadays has been almost completely forgot. But due to the conservatism efforts of Old Believers in Ust-Tsilma, the Gorka celebration has remained. The festival – much like an ancient manuscript – is one that must be interpreted and promises fascinating discoveries. Watch RTG TV’s new programme and learn about the colourful folk festival in the village of Ust-Tsilma.