It’s a holiday celebrated annually in Russia’s Yamal-Nenets region in the Arctic.
For the indigenous nomadic Nenets people, Reindeer Herders’ Day offers a chance to show their prowess in wrestling, high jumps and other traditional local sports, but, above all, in reindeer races. Some participants traveled hundreds of kilometers (miles) across the frozen tundra to attend the competition in the northern Siberian region, which has more than half of its territory above the Arctic Circle.
Nadym, where the races were held, is a city 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) northeast of Moscow.
This year, when the holiday was celebrated for the 20th time, dozens of reindeer-driven sleds took part in the race. The most coveted prize is a snowmobile — the best means of transportation in the frigid region.
There are about 40,000 Nenets living in the Arctic region and many work in traditional reindeer herding.
In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, a Nenets boy sits on a sleigh as he attends the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets woman rides steers a sled during a reindeer race at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man rides a reindeer sled at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, an elderly Nenets man attends the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 km (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man takes part in a reindeer race at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 km (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets woman walks by chums at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, Nenets women take photos as they attend the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, Nenets men wrestle during a competition at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man pulls his reindeer at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man examines a stuffed bear at the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, a Nenets man sits on a reindeer sleigh at the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets family walks after the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets boy attends the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets children attend the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets children attend the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets woman and her child attend the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets women speak at sunset after the Reindeer Herder’s Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man rides in a reindeer sled at sunset after the Reindeer Herder’s Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Spotlight is the blog of AP Images, the world’s largest collection of historical and contemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP’s iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional image buyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
Written content on this site is not created by the editorial department of AP, unless otherwise noted.
AP Images Blog 
excellent photographs….. thanks AP
LikeLike