In a radiant celebration of tradition and emotion, the 27th European Festival of Serb Folklore was held over the weekend in Banja Luka. Through dance, song, and heartfelt performances, the event brought together generations and nations, leaving an indelible mark of pride in the rich Serb heritage.
This unforgettable event, which reaffirmed the strength and beauty of our folklore, was hosted this year by the Workers’ Cultural and Artistic Society (RKUD) Pelagić. The members are still reflecting on the experience, proudly emphasizing that the festival once again demonstrated the importance of preserving and passing on tradition to younger generations, while offering the audience unforgettable moments of joy and togetherness.
Olivera Čudić, president of RKUD Pelagić, told Glas that the festival in Banja Luka brought together around 4,000 folklore enthusiasts, including nearly 2,000 dancers.
“As hosts, we aimed to give everyone a warm welcome and an unforgettable experience, and to showcase the strength, diversity, and beauty of Serb folklore through the program and atmosphere. Everyone went home happy and satisfied—that is our greatest reward,” said Čudić.
She added that the festival had both a competitive and a showcase character, leaving a lasting impression filled with pride, emotion, and standing ovations. First place in the competitive program went to the Cultural and Artistic Society (KUD) Stevan Mokranjac from Vienna, while groups from Republika Srpska, including the host RKUD Pelagić and KUD Čajavec, performed in the non-competitive segment.
“The audience had the opportunity to witness the customs, traditions, and culture of nearly the entire former Yugoslavia in one place, with the most represented being dances from Serbia. Our Pelagić performed traditional dances from the Krajina region,” added Čudić.
Among the participants was KUD Čajavec from Banja Luka, which left a powerful impression on the audience through its emotionally charged and meaningful performance.
The society’s secretary, Katarina Kovačević, emphasized that the organization was at a high level and that all participants gave their best.
“The point of all this is to show that we are still here, preserving our tradition. It’s important that our culture and customs are passed down from generation to generation, and that young people understand how things once looked. Of course, everything is now adapted to modern times, but the essence remains the same,” said Kovačević.
According to her, such events are significant not only for participants but also for the city itself.
“In addition to its cultural importance, the festival is also vital for Banja Luka, which was filled with tourists over the weekend precisely because of this event. We’re here to remind everyone that Republika Srpska has its own cultural and artistic societies that are actively working to preserve tradition,” she added.
Wider impact
This year, 31 folklore ensembles performed in the “Borik” Sports Hall, coming from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and Republika Srpska. Banja Luka has already proven to be a great host for such events—back in 2018, when the festival was last held in the city on the Vrbas River, all accommodation capacities were fully booked, even within a 100-kilometer radius, which speaks volumes about the significance of this event for the entire region.
Source: Glas Srpske
