600+ to join the 'Belenski Brazai' masquerade festival in north Bulgaria

More than 600 participants will take part in the “Belenski Brazai” masquerade festival in the town of Byala, in northeastern Bulgaria’s Ruse region, on February 21 and 22, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported.

The town centre will be transformed into a colourful stage for traditional ritual performances with roots in ancient folk customs. Groups of 'brazai' from Byala will parade alongside 'survakari' from the Pernik villages of Leskovets and Dolna Sekirna, as well as 'kukeri' from Aydemir and Pobeda. A group from the village of Koshov will perform the masquerade ritual known as 'Dzhamal'.

Visitors will witness traditional rites symbolising health, fertility and prosperity. The first evening will conclude with the ritual lighting of a bonfire to mark Sirni Zagovezni, an Orthodox Christian holiday associated with forgiveness which is observed before Lent begins.

On 22 February, the Expo Centre 'Usta Kolyo Ficheto' will host an exhibition titled 'The Spirit of the Brazai'. A scholarly conference dedicated to Bulgarian masquerade traditions will also take place.

The 'brazai' are traditional masked male figures who perform ritual dances intended to ward off evil and bring good fortune, typically dressed as fantastical animal-like creatures.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova