Ingrit Kala elected Seto ülemsootska

Local life and culture promoter Ingrit Kala has been elected Seto ülemsootska, ERR reported. The election took place on Saturday during the 33rd Seto Kingdom Day in Mikitamäe near Värska.

The event culminated in a vote between Kala and Rain Oper. The two candidates stood on separate ends of a log, with a rope attached to each end. Voters expressed their choice by holding the rope leading to their preferred candidate.

Significantly more people gathered around Kala’s rope.

“You must certainly be there for your own people. If you are invited somewhere, you have to go, bring your blessing and, of course, work outside as well and keep the Setos visible,” Kala said.

She said the Seto language is spoken by relatively few people and needs to be developed, including for young people, so that it does not disappear completely.

Signe, a local resident, said the kingdom day brings together people who feel Seto at heart.

“I have not lived here for long. I am now in my second year living in Setomaa; before that I lived elsewhere, but my heart called me here. It is always important that your own people come together, that you see many familiar faces and hear how everyone is doing. There is always something, small things that make it a lovely day,” she said.