The residents of Zenica continued the tradition of gathering on the banks of Bosnia and other rivers in that city on the occasion of the Cimburijada this year, when due to the month of fasting – Ramadan, there were evidently fewer visitors to this centuries-old event.
Cimburijada was opened by the mayor of that city, Fuad Kasumović, who wished all the guests to feel comfortable in the city.
“The Zenica Chimburijada is a tradition that is more than 100 years old. The citizens’ forum wants to brand it and the city is helping them with that. To tell the truth, this year it happens in specific situations – it’s Ramadan, but Zenica is a European multi-ethnic city and we don’t want to break the tradition “One thing is news, tonight a key match for Bosnia and Herzegovina is being played against Ukraine, so the 1,500 eggs will be packed and distributed to the fans the moment the Zenica cannon signals iftar,” announced Kasumović.
He underlined that there is no nation, city or country without tradition and that tradition must be respected and nurtured.
The President of the Zenica Citizens’ Forum, Mirsad Mujkić, pointed out that they are proud of the Cimburijada, which they nominated for the List of Intangible Heritage of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all the necessary procedures were completed last month.
“We submitted the complete documentation – the report, the archival materials we collected, and we are expecting the result. As we were told, we have good prospects for our traditional Uranak to become part of the heritage of all of us,” Mujkić said.
Spring, he added, is the most beautiful season, when you come out of winter. Traces of this way of greeting the arrival of spring, he noted, also existed in other civilizations.
“I came with my company around five o’clock this morning. According to custom, as they say, on the spring break. The city of Zenica knows that we have been here for more than 40 years, and 80 percent of this company has been coming to this place for so many years. Every year we celebrate the arrival of spring, and this is a spontaneous gathering without an invitation. Chimburijada is above all a gathering, an early morning, and we also celebrate Zenica Day and its 588th birthday,” said the president of the Mountaineering Association of the Zenica Railway, Anto Štaka.
During the morning hours, numerous events were held, and the visitors were entertained, among others, by the Zenica Wind Orchestra and the Cultural and Artistic Society of Bosnia Folk.
In the following, the 9th competition in the preparation of the Zenica chimbur will be held, as well as the regatta on the Bosna River, organized by SRK “Bosna”, in which teams from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina will descend from Drivuša to Zenica.
At 1 p.m., when the rafters reach the finish line, a traditional spring swim is also planned.
Photo: Fena
