Celebrations marking the 1,000th anniversary of the capital of Kazan kick off today. Kazan, on the banks of the Volga River, is the capital of the mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan, some 700 kilometers east of Moscow. The Tatars trace their lineage back to the Mongols who raced across Russia in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the 16th century, Kazan became part of the Russian Empire. But the city has worked hard to preserve its ancient cultural identity, which will be showcased during the festivities.