Moscow:
Hundreds of Russian students and Hindi teachers from a local school and three universities celebrated Hindi Day in Moscow in a function organised by Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) of the Indian Embassy.
"I have been invited here to encourage you, but on the contrary, your are encouraging me. In old Soviet days it was the state order to study Hindi, but today on seeing your young faces I see that it is your choice to learn Hindi and Indian culture," Hindi Ambassador Prabhat Shukla said in his address.
A junior schoolgirl Maria Kozlova enthralled the audience when in fluent Hindi. She recited the poem "Sabse nyari, sabse pyari hamari Hindi," (Our Hindi is the most cute and lovely) on Wednesday night.
Students from Moscow State University and Institute of International Relations, the major centres of Hindi learning and other Indian languages in Russia, also recited poems and songs in Hindi.
Greeting the Russian scholars and students, well-known translator of Russian literature into Hindi, Padma Shri Madanlal 'Madhu' called for bringing the great heritage of Hindi literature on to the global stage.
Professor of Hindi at the JNCC, Shishir Pandey praised the Russian students saying while teaching them he discovered common spiritual feelings.
"The spiritual linkage between the two nations at the level of individuals is so strong, that it has kept alive Indo-Russian friendship despite all odds," Pandey said.