Zenica residents continue tradition: Čimburijada on riverbanks and regatta down the Bosna to welcome spring

(Patria) - Zenica residents continued the tradition of gathering on the banks of the Bosna and other rivers in the city for Čimburijada this year, although there are noticeably fewer visitors to this centuries-old event due to the month of fasting - Ramadan.

Čimburijada was opened by the city's mayor, Fuad Kasumović, who wished all guests a pleasant stay in the city.

"Zenica's Čimburijada is a tradition over 100 years old. The Citizens' Forum wants to brand it, and the city is helping them. To be honest, this year it is happening in specific circumstances - it is Ramadan, however, Zenica is a European multi-ethnic city and we do not want to break the tradition. There is one novelty, tonight the crucial match for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Ukraine is being played, so the scrambled eggs made from 1,500 eggs will be packaged and distributed to the fans the moment the Zenica cannon signals iftar," announced Kasumović.

He emphasized that there is no nation, city, or country without tradition, and that tradition must be respected and nurtured.

The president of the Citizens' Forum Zenica, Mirsad Mujkić, stated that they are proud of Čimburijada, which they nominated for the List of Intangible Heritage of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and completed all the necessary procedures last month.

"We submitted the complete documentation - the study, archival materials we collected, and we expect results. As they told us, we have good prospects for our traditional spring gathering to become part of the heritage of all of us," said Mujkić.

Spring is the most beautiful season, he added, when one emerges from winter. Traces of this way of welcoming spring, he noted, existed in other civilizations.

"I came with my friends around five this morning. As usual, as they say, for the spring gathering. The City of Zenica knows that we have been coming here for over 40 years, and 80 percent of this group has been coming to this place for that many years. Every year we celebrate the arrival of spring, and this is a spontaneous gathering without an invitation. Čimburijada is primarily about socializing, a spring gathering, and we are also celebrating Zenica Day and its 588th birthday," said the president of the Mountaineering Association Željezara Zenica, Anto Štaka.

Numerous events were held during the morning hours, and visitors were entertained by, among others, the Zenica Brass Band and the Cultural and Artistic Association Bosnia folk.

Later, the 9th competition for preparing Zenica scrambled eggs will be held, as well as a regatta on the Bosna River organized by SRK "Bosna", during which teams from all over BiH will descend from Drivuša to Zenica.

At 1 PM, when the rafters reach the finish line, the traditional spring swim is also planned.