All ready for the opening of the '516th Days of Ajvatovica' event

(Patria) - A press conference was held today at the Travnik Muftiship on the occasion of the start of the cultural and religious event "516th Days of Ajvatovica".

It will open on June 11 in Prusac and will last until June 28. Visitors will be offered a rich program of religious, cultural, educational and sports content.

The Travnik Mufti, Ahmed-ef. Adilović, emphasized that this year, within the event, 62 program contents will be organized.

- This is one of the longest-lasting and most significant events in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of our tradition and culture. By holding it, we nurture tradition, strengthen identity and preserve Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For many years now, the event has transcended the borders of our country, as we have participants from Turkey, Croatia and Sandžak - pointed out Mufti Adilović, who is also the President of the Organizing Committee of the event.

The representative of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vehid-ef. Arnaut, reminded that Ajvatovica is the largest prayer gathering of Muslims in Europe.

- Cooperation with institutions of the Islamic Community has continued, especially with the Gazi Husrev-beg Library.

A novelty is that the Islamic Community has also established the Museum of Islamic Culture, so from this year, representatives of the Museum are significantly involved in activities related to Ajvatovica, as well as other organizational units of the Islamic Community.

Cooperation with the Institute for Language has also been strengthened. What particularly pleases us is that we have brought the Sevdah Foundation back to Prusac and its surroundings, which preserves and nurtures the sevdalinka - stated ef. Arnaut.

This year's Ajvatovica, in addition to religious and cultural content, will offer sports and recreational activities, as well as content related to social care and solidarity, pointed out Dževdet-ef. Šošić, assistant director of the Elči Ibrahim-pašina Madrasa in Travnik.

The chief imam of the Majlis of the Islamic Community (MIZ) Donji Vakuf, Amir-ef. Čavak, emphasized the importance of educational programs and religious content, stating that most of them will be held in the area of the Majlis Donji Vakuf.

The Mayor of the Donji Vakuf Municipality, Senad Selimović, confirmed that all preparations for the organization of the event have been successfully completed in the previous period.

- The entire infrastructure is ready, as well as accommodation capacities for receiving visitors, i.e., guests. Our municipality will be visited by guests from Turkey, Sandžak and Croatia. It is our pleasure that during the event we will become a regional gathering center - said Selimović.

The organizers estimate that this year's Ajvatovica should be visited by nearly 50,000 people.