T’puram: Malayalis bearing the name ‘Gagarin’ are set to come together once again in the city, marking a unique cultural tribute to space history. The gathering will be held at Russian Honorary Consulate near Vellayambalam-Vanchiyoor Jn at 5.30pm on Saturday as part of 65th anniversary celebrations of Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight.The event is being organized a day ahead of April 12, observed globally as International Day of Human Space Flight. It commemorates Gagarin’s pioneering journey aboard Vostok 1 in 1961, when he became the first human to travel into space and orbit the Earth in a 108-minute mission, opening a new era in space exploration. The annual gathering of ‘Gagarins’ in Thiruvananthapuram reflects the long-standing cultural and political ties between Kerala and Russia, where several Malayali families named their children after the Soviet cosmonaut during the height of Indo-Soviet friendship. Organizers said the reunion will include interactions, sharing personal stories behind the name, and discussions on space science and international cooperation. Similar celebrations, including ‘Yuri’s Night’, are held worldwide around April 12 to honour human achievements in space and inspire future generations. The organizers expect participation from people across the state, turning the event into both a nostalgic reunion and a celebration of humanity’s first leap into space.
