By forming “the longest kolo[1]”, led by the Mayor of Bosilegrad Municipality Vladimir Zaharijev, the participants of the international folklore festival “Bosilegrad Singing and Dancing” symbolically sent the message of peace and cooperation among nations living in the Balkans. There were representatives of the Orthodox and Islamic religions in the kolo, together with all national minorities living in Bosilegrad, as well as other festival guests.
“Bosilegrad Singing and Dancing” is the third international folklore festival held in Bosilegrad 27 July – 2 August 2011 with participation of over 21 folklore groups from different parts of Serbia, Bulgaria and Macedonia, as well as France.
One of the values of the festival is that it brings together dancers from different places demonstrating that along with differences there are many similarities between different cultural folklore heritage and national costumes of all ethnic groups.
“There are few such events in Bosilegrad, and we have prepared all year long to organise the festival as best as we can and it is slowly but surely becoming a tradition, being the most important cultural event. The festival is organised as a revue of young people from all parts of the world coming together in Bosilegrad” said the Mayor of Bosilegrad Municipality, Vladimir Zaharijev.
This year the festival is supported by the European Union and Swiss Government through the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme – PROGRES, with co-funding from the Serbian Government and Bosilegrad Municipality.
[1] collective folk dance where dancers dance in a line or a circle holding hands