A unique festival is held every year in the village of Radilovo, Pazardjik district – The festival of „keshkesh“ and folk traditions. This year’s event will take place on September 23rd and 24th in the main square of the village. The festival is dedicated to the mythical dish „keshkesh“. According to the legend, the preparing of the specific meal of grain and water began almost miraculously.
In the village of Radilovo many years ago, while the village was called Voynovo and was inhabited by the Thracian tribe Bessi, there was a serious illness. The disease didn’t allow women to conceive offspring, and those who became pregnant have given birth to dead children. Then in the dream of a woman appeared the Thracian goddess of fertility Bendida and taught her how to make a „keshkesh“. From the finest grain, ground in stone, washed nine times and prepared in silent water with the enchanting words for bringing health and fertility. Even today, such a mash is traditionally prepared at births and weddings.
Early in the morning at 8 o’clock on September 22nd, those visiting the festival will be able to see how to boil the keshkesh and hear the legend of the dish. The official opening is 11 a.m., followed by folk customs accompanied by folk music and dancing. At 3 p.m. will be held a race for grinding grain, followed by a race for the traditional making of butter.
The workshops for folk and modern dances will be opened at 4 p.m., and from 5 p.m. the best folk dancers will score their strengths set. At about 7 p.m. will begin the concert “Five Years of Brake Dance Electra Crew and Friends”. During the two days of the festival, visitors will be able to view and buy typical household items, souvenirs, and food from manufacturers.
The festival continues on the next day, September 23, again with a demonstration of cooking on a keshkesh from 8 a.m. Traditional customs from other regions of the country will be presented at 10 a.m. and a game with children will be held. At 11 a.m. starts a concert of Zora ensemble of the village of Radilovo. The festival will be closed at 12.30.
