site.btaSofia Marks Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians

The celebrations of the Day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians, organized by the State Agency for the Bulgarians Abroad (SABA), are taking place on Saturday and Sunday on the square in front of the NDK convention centre in Sofia.

For starters on Saturday, the "Konnik" theatre with the "Dobri Chintulov - 19" community centre presented an interactive performance-game with original songs and live music.

Guests of the festival get a chance to taste various traditional dishes from Bulgarian communities abroad, exhibited at several stands, as well as Bessarabian wine. For the kids, there is a workshop for making Kuker masks and paper flowers.

Visitors can meet and talk to SABA Executive Director Rayna Mandzhukova, and some of her team who are attending the celebrations.

The official opening of the celebration will take place at 3 pm. It will be accompanied by a programme of choreographies by Bessarabian ensembles from Ukraine and Moldova. Sunday's event will include a show of folk costumes from different regions of Bulgaria. 

The presentation will be made by the winner of the Miss Bulgaria 2022 beauty pageant, Oksana Zhelyapova, who is originally from Moldova. The festivities will include performances by Bessarabian ensembles from Moldova, Ukraine and Bulgaria. 

The celebrations take place one week earlier than the official date on which the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians is celebrated. The organizers' aim is to unite compatriots around the world and spread the word about the lifestyle, culture and activities of Bulgarian communities abroad.