The 14^th traditional meeting of the Harcoi is taking place today in Katselovo village, Dve Mogili municipality near the city of Russe. The event, taking place under the patronage of Dve Mogili mayor Marieta Petrova, starts at 9.30 AM with a water sanctification ceremony for good health and prosperity.

22 singing groups from 20 towns and villages in Northern Bulgaria have confirmed their participation. The programme of the festival includes different original traditional rituals. The event is organized by the local chitalishte (community culture club) Vaptsarov 1902.  

The festival of the Harcoi was first organized in 2009, the Bulgarian news agency BTA writes. Katselovo is famed for its authentic traditional costumes which are more than 200 years old, and which are used by performers of authentic folklore. The locals have preserved their Harcoi dialect, handed down from generation to generation.

The Harcoi are one of the groups of an old Bulgarian population living in Northern and some parts of Northeastern Bulgaria, mostly in the settlements in the vicinity of the towns of Byala and Russe.  

Edited by Miglena Ivanova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: Russe regional administration