As part of the traditional religious and cultural event “Ajvatovica,” a send-off for horsemen on their way to the 515th Ajvatovica was organized yesterday in front of the Bijela Dzamija (White Mosque) by the Islamic Community Council of the Brcko District and the Government of the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
A total of ten horsemen set off on a journey of about 270 kilometers, which will take them through several BiH cities, and the final goal is to attend the central religious program “515th Days of Ajvatovica” together with other horsemen from all over BiH.
“There is nothing more beautiful than riding a horse through your homeland. When all of that comes together, it is a special feeling. Emotions arise, and tears appear on the road. People respect us, regardless of religion and nationality. People often say: ‘Love your own, respect others’. That’s exactly what we live. We love BiH, we respect all peoples and customs, and we sacrifice for that love,” said the president of the equestrian club “Djeca Vjetra” (Children of the Wind), Aziz Sehovic.
The deputy chief imam of the Islamic Community Council of Brcko, Sabahudin Ravkic, says that Ajvatovica is very important for Muslims in BiH, given that this is the 515th religious event, which will again this year gather a large number of believers from across the country.
“The number itself speaks to the persistence of remembrance of the event that happened in Prusac 515 years ago. Ajvatovica is important for Bosniaks in both cultural and religious terms. They gather and remember their past, and by doing so, they nurture their future,” Ravkic said.
Among the group of horsemen from Brcko, this year is also the young flagbearer Amar Mulalic from Tesanj, who says it is a great honor for him to participate in the ride.
“For me, this is a great challenge, but also a strong desire to carry the flag to the end of the journey. I came mostly because of the horses, but also because of Ajvatovica. I will be riding Baron, one of the most beautiful horses in the group. There will surely be fatigue, especially for the horses if the heat is intense. Last year, some horses got injured, so we hope everything will go well this time,” added Mulalic.
