The source of the Volga river is a sanctuary which since the olden days has been attracting people with its mystery. In the folk perception, the source of this great river is inseparably linked to the beginning of the Christian history of Russia. There is a special ceremony of the source consecration for Volga to carry Holy waters across the whole Russian land. According to an ancient legend, this water is considered healing and cleansing, and the pilgrims keep coming to the source.

Another legend is about Lotus, the main treasure of the delta of the Volga river. The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses.In India today, the lotus is still considered to be the cradle of the universe, and many Indian deities are portrayed sitting on a large lotus flower.

The magnificent blossom unfolds gradually, one petal at a time, till full-bloom in the morning when the sun's rays touch the flower. As the lotus awakens and blooms at the first rays of the morning sun, the interdependence between the lotus and the sun is a symbol of love.

Nobody knows how that eastern flower has got to the Volga waters. There is an old Kalmykian legend that tells how a sacred flower appeared on the Volga banks. The legend says that very long time ago, the territory of the Volga delta belonged to the Nogaysky Khan who had a beautiful daughter Zejnab. Young courageous soldier by name of Shakir fell in love with Zejnab.He didn't know how to tell Khan's daughter about his love. He was afraid that Zejnab will not even look at him. Shakir decided to seek advice from an Oracle. Oracle had listened to Shakir, was silent for a long time, and has then answered the young man:

«In a far away land, there is a wonderful country India. In the waters of the great river Ganges in India the sacred flower lotus grows. Pass through mountains and deserts, reach Ganges, collect lotus seeds and bring them here. You will throw the seeds in the waters of Volga, lotus will blossom and Zejnab will fall in love with you."

"I will bring lotus and I will plant it in the Volga-river!»-the young man replied.

«But remember, — an Oracle said, — your dream will come true, but thus you will lose the most precious to you!»

«What could be precious to the soldier? The faithful horse and a sharp sabre from a Damask steel, — has thought Shakir. — I will give everything for love of beloved Zejnab!»

The young soldier set off a long journey. Years passed from the day he left. Nobody expected him to come back alive. But Shakir had come back with lotus seeds threw the seeds in Volga and went to Khan's palace to see his beloved Zejnab.

When he was approaching the palace he noticed that the people where leaving the palace with their back forward and Shakir understood that somebody had died. And people told him that Khan's daughter had died. Soldier's heart has trembled.He understood the meaning of the old Oracle's warning. Shakir had nothing more precious than Zejnab. The death has come to Zejnab the same instant when Shakir has thrown lotus seeds in Volga. In despair the young man has thrown the sabre in the air and turned his chest to it. The sabre stuck directly into his heart, and killed courageous soldier. When Zejnab and Shakir were buried, wonderful lotus flowers rose above the Volga river waters. Nobody could understand where the flowers had come from. When people asked the Oracle about the flowers he told them the story about Shakir's love to Zejnab for the sake of which he has brought a sacred flower from the far Indian river...

The period of lotus blossoming begins approximately in second half of July and continues till the end of September, and the flowering peak is at the end of July, or on first half of August. Enjoy lotus blossoming during Volga Cruise in the early September!