Kukeri festival in Shiroka Luka to banish evil and bring health and prosperity

The Kukeri Festival in Shiroka Laka, traditionally held on the first Sunday of March, marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Accompanied by the sound of bells and cowbells, a ritual is performed to ward off evil.

On this day local masked dancers, kukeri - called pessyatsi - visit people's homes to bring good health and prosperity. They then go to the village square where they perform a wedding ritual for the bride and the elder, re-enacting birth, ploughing and sowing. It is believed that if a pessyak jumps over you, you will have a good year.

On the eve of the holiday, concerts and performances by amateur artists are organised - an exhibition of children's drawings of Kukeri, as well as plays and poetry recitals on the occasion of the National Day on 3 March. There will be a concert by students from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Laka.

The Kukeri Festival is organised by the Municipality of Smolyan, the Town Hall of Shiroka Laka and the People's Community Centre "Exarch Stefan - 1872".