Ingrit Kala is elected as the new Ülemsootska during the annual Seto Kingdom Day in Estonia.
Ingrit Kala was elected as the Ülemsootska, the representative of the Seto ethnic community, during the annual Seto Kingdom Day in the village of Mikitamäe. The event, which began in 1994, serves to preserve the Seto language and culture, which are closely related to Estonian. During the festival, community members wore traditional folk costumes and participated in activities such as leelo singing, a 1,000-year-old tradition of mythological singing. The Seto people, who have lived in the border region of Estonia and Russia, use the kingdom day to maintain their unique identity and heritage. Kala emphasized the importance of promoting Seto culture and her agenda includes preserving the language, which is often learned in the family. The festival features unique elements like entry visas, made-up currency, and a mock military parade, turning the community into a symbolic kingdom for a day.