Residents of Chechnya express polar opinions on March 8 celebrations

Some residents of Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, refused to celebrate the International Women's Day for religious reasons and out of respect for the memory of the victims of Balkars' deportation, which was undertaken on that day in 1944. Other Grozny residents took March 8 as an occasion to congratulate women.

Some residents of the republic told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they are celebrating March 8.

"Some people assert that Islam forbids holidays ... March 8 is a holiday of spring; and to please your mother, sister, wife, relative or colleague on that day – is that reprehensible?" Imran, a local resident, has shared his opinion.

Sultan, another resident of Grozny, in his turn, does not treat March 8 as a holiday. "For me, March 8 is not a holiday ... this is the deportation day of our Balkar brothers. It's like having fun on the day when your neighbour's house is in mourning," he said.

Khasan, a Grozny resident, does not celebrate March 8 for religious reasons.

In the Caucasus, the attitude to the celebration of March 8 varies significantly, said Sergey Arutyunov, an anthropologist.

"The more Muslim traditions are expressed, the less this holiday is rooted," the scientist has explained.