'Ajvatovica Days': Exhibition 'Material Cultural Heritage of the Travnik Muftiship' Opens

(Patria) - Following the ceremonial opening, last night at the Hasan Kafija Pruščak House, as part of the "516th Ajvatovica Days", the exhibition "Material Cultural Heritage of the Travnik Muftiship" was opened, realized in cooperation with the Museum of Islamic Culture and Art Sarajevo, MINA reported.

The organizers had earlier highlighted the cooperation with the Museum as a special contribution to this year's event, resulting in an exhibition about seventeen national monuments in the area of the Muftiship, authored by Selma Pandžić, MA, a curator at the Museum.

On behalf of the Museum director, Elvir Duranović, a research associate at the Institute for the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks within the Museum, addressed visitors, reminding them that the Rijaset established the Museum last year.

The goal of this step is the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and its cultivation within the framework of Islamic spirituality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Within the Museum, the Scientific-Research Department of the Institute for the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks operates, which conducted a comprehensive research over the past two years – an analysis of the state of intangible cultural heritage owned by the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You may not be aware that within the Islamic Community there are 237 national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, with the aim of drawing attention to the importance of cultural heritage nurtured within the Islamic Community, this exhibition is held on the occasion of Ajvatovica Days, since Ajvatovica itself encompasses both material and intangible cultural heritage. We are happy that this is one of the first activities of the Museum," said Duranović.

He reminded that Ajvatovica is on the preliminary list of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage and that in Prusac itself there are two national monuments – the mosque of Hasan Kafija Pruščak and the Handanagina mosque.

"We hope that this exhibition, which will remain the property of the Muftiship and which, we hope, will tour our schools and mektebs, will achieve the result of drawing attention to the importance of cultural heritage for the national identity of Bosniaks," said Duranović.

The author of the exhibition, Selma Pandžić, said, among other things, that it concerns seventeen national monuments that speak of the rich cultural and historical wealth not only of the Travnik Muftiship but of the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The exhibition contains basic historical data and points to the historical and cultural values of the national monuments.

"Our goal was to present this wealth and point to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. We hope that this exhibition will continue to expand and be presented to other schools and mektebs," said Pandžić.

She particularly expressed satisfaction that this exhibition is among the first activities of the Museum.

The Travnik mufti, Ahmed-ef. Adilović, also emphasized the joy that this year, in cooperation with the Museum of the Islamic Community, they organized this exhibition, reminding of the importance of remembering history and preserving material and intangible heritage.

"Tonight is a very nice opportunity to introduce a wider circle of people to this, but what we will emphasize, God willing, is that our youth, through schools, faculties, and in various other ways, get to know this and see what a rich past and history we had, so that they too can be proud of it, and, accordingly, in the future we will also create significant works that will be on some important official lists, under UNESCO protection, etc.," said Mufti Adilović.

The event continues tonight with a forum on the topic of Global Implications of the Conflict in the Middle East, which will be held at the premises of the Vitez Majlis. The speakers are Osman Softić, MA, and Dr. Jahja Muhasilović, MINA reports.