History of Russia: International Gagarin’s Readings launched

On March 9 2011 the world is celebrating 77th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin, while main festive events are taking place in the town of Gagarin, Smolensk Oblast the birthplace of the first cosmonaut.

On March 9 the town of Gagarin officially mounted the Year of Russian Cosmonautics, declared by the decree of the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, and opened traditional 38th International Gagarin’s Readings.  

Participants of “Gagarin’s Readings” laid flowers on a tomb of Yuri Gagarin’s parents. Later in the town’s Red Square was held a solemn meeting marking the Year of Russian Cosmonautics and traditional International readings called to commemorate the memory of the prominent cosmonaut.

On the left bank of Gzhat river, opposite the Cathedral of Annunciation, guests of honor together with builders laid the first stone of the Children’s Creativity Center.

The program of the four-day Gagarin’s Readings includes five sections. Prominent scholars, cosmonauts, doctors, pedagogues, local lore scientists will deliver reports during plenary meetings.