Ethnic minorities of Moldova bring together at Etno Fest 2024 Festival in Taraclia

Chisinau, 17 September /MOLDPRES/ - The 23rd edition of the Etno Fest 2024 Festival was held in the southern Taraclia city on the last days off. More bands of folk songs and dances from various regions of Moldova, as well as from abroad, artists and popular craftsmen participated in the event.   
„This ethnic and cultural festival unites all ethnic groups and has the goal to popularize the customs and the culture of all nationalities which live on the territory of Moldova, as well as abroad,’’ the head of the Taraclia district, Lazari Dermenji, said in his speech given to the people present the event.     
At the cultural event, organized by the Taraclia district authorities with the financial and logistic support of the Association for the Development of the Bulgarian Community from Moldova (ARBOM), the country’s top leadership, representatives of diplomatic missions in Moldova, as well as special guests participated. Thus, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said he was delighted by the way he had been met by the local residents, as well as by the large number of people who had come to this holiday.     
„Taking into account that my origins are also here in the south of Moldova, I believe that this region is very rich. And namely due to the fact that here, for centuries, both the native people and the other ethnic minorities, such as the Bulgarians, the Gagauz or Ukrainians, have lived in peace and managed to contribute to the development and preservation of the traditions of each people,’’ Igor Grosu said.  
Ambassador of Bulgaria to Moldova Maya Dobreva highlighted the spirit of unity and coexistence of the ethnic minorities in Moldova.  
„I wish everybody to enjoy the hospitability of the local residents from this region, the local traditions, the wine made here, the traditional bushel, as well as the Bulgarian folklore and the one of other ethnic minorities,’’ the Bulgarian diplomat said.       
„At this festival, I feel as a Bulgarian in a true Bulgarian village. Here, I saw the traditions which I would have seen at an event in Bulgaria,’’ the president of the ARBOM Council, Plamen Milanov, said. The Association was set to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the ethnic Bulgarians from Moldova. Milanov appreciated the fact that the traditions with origins in the country were they had been born were still preserved Taraclia district, as well as other settlements of this region.     
Numerous artistic bands from Moldova, as well as of Romania and Ukraine performed on the stage of the Etno Fest 2024 Festival. Thus, those who were present on the square from the centre of the Taraclia city were able to enjoy themselves with traditional dishes and beverages, as well as to admire dances interpreted by various ethnic minorities, such as the Bulgarians, Gagauz, Ukrainians, Albanians or Romanians.     
Besides the cultural events, the residents of Taraclia, as well as the guests of Etno Fest 2024 were able to take part also in tombola with valuable prizes, organized by ARBOM. Over 200 people participated in the tombola and ten prizes were awarded, of which the biggest one – a fridge.