Landmark Buildings in Bulgarian Cities Lit Up in Purple on Epilepsy Awareness Day

Diana Dukovska, Ioana Dimitrova

The National Palace of Culture in Sofia on World Epilepsy Awareness Day, March 26, 2025 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)

Sofia,

26.03.2025 22:28

(BTA)

Landmark buildings in several Bulgarian cities were lit up in purple on World Epilepsy Awareness Day, marked on March 26. Various events were organized by the Association of Parents of Children with Epilepsy in Bulgaria.

World Epilepsy Awareness Day, or Purple Day, is a global initiative to raise awareness about epilepsy and to support those affected by it, the organization said.

The National Palace of Culture in Sofia, the bridge on the central beach in Burgas, the Chamber Opera House and the chitalishte (community centre) in Blagoevgrad, the Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, the Boris Christoff House of Culture in Plovdiv and the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes in Ruse joined the initiative and were lit up in purple.

A flash mob was staged in front of Sofia's Ilinden Borough administrative building at noon. Young people suffering from epilepsy planted five willows and three hazel trees in the South Park, the idea being that this will become an annual event and people with epilepsy will take care of the trees. This initiative is supported by Sofia Municipality.

In 15 Sofia schools and in one children's sports school, students and teachers dressed in purple or wore purple ribbons. The students were shown films raising awareness of the disease.

The first Purple Day was held in 2008. It was initiated by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan from Nova Scotia, Canada, who suffers from the disease. In 2009, Cassidy Megan and the Epilepsy Association of The Maritimes joined forces with The Anita Kaufmann Foundation to launch Purple Day internationally.

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer's disease, the Association of Parents of Children with Epilepsy in Bulgaria said. The disease is caused by electrical disturbances in the brain, leading to seizures. It triples the risk of premature death due to seizure-related incidents. A quarter of seizures can be controlled through prevention. Epilepsy can be controlled if diagnosed and treated properly, the Association said.

/RY/