Devolli celebrates Cultural Heritage Day among traditions, crafts and young generations

2025-09-30 13:53:00, Qyteti im CNA

Devolli celebrates Cultural Heritage Day among traditions, crafts and young

The city of Bilisht organized the “Cultural Heritage Day in Devoll”, a special activity of the municipality within the framework of the National Cultural Heritage Day. The city’s pedestrian area turned into a living cultural mosaic, where traditional folk costumes, handicrafts and typical dishes of the region were exhibited, with the aim of preserving and passing on traditions to the younger generations. A special place in this activity was occupied by the participation of students from schools in the city and surrounding administrative units, who brought handicrafts, dishes and traditional objects.

Inola Zaçlli, a ninth-grade student from Menkulas school, said that they had selected handicrafts to present, while emphasizing the importance of learning to appreciate traditions.

"We, the Menkulas school, have selected handicrafts to present. This is a handmade and crocheted pillow. We are very pleased that today we have learned how to appreciate our traditions and we have come to convey all these messages here."

Letisia Galo, from the “Shaban Pajo” school in Sul, brought traditional dishes from the area such as lakrori with two noodles, pancakes, tarrhana and many other foods. She expressed her pleasure that as a student she had the opportunity to promote the culture of her region.

"We, the students of the "Shaban Pajo" school, Sul, have come here to promote the traditional dishes of the Devoll area. Some of them are lakrori with two noodles, pancakes, terhana, rosnica, japrakë with grape leaves, fried pancakes and many other traditional foods. I have come here because today is the day of cultural heritage and all of us as students are very pleased and proud of our dishes and old and special cultural things."

Meanwhile, Bianka Kaso from the ninth grade of the "Dritëro Agolli" school, expressed that she felt happy to participate in such an important activity, where students brought old objects, folk costumes, handicrafts and traditional dishes that show the identity and history of Devoll.

"Today I feel happy to be part of this special activity dedicated to our cultural heritage. We, the school students, have brought here old objects, folk costumes, handicrafts and traditional dishes, which tell our history, customs and identity. We must preserve this culture with pride and pass it on from generation to generation."

The head of the cultural heritage sector at the Devoll Municipality, Elona Uzhuri, emphasized that this day has been a national holiday since 2003 and is based on the protection of heritage values. She added that this year the new generation, students and young people, have been engaged as ambassadors for the preservation and promotion of these values.

"Since 2003, National Heritage Day has become a holiday celebrated in Albania. At its foundation are the patriotic and patriotic values ??of the soldiers who, during the First World War, in 1916, protected the heritage sites in the Apollonia Park. The Municipality of Devoll, in cooperation with its administrative units, has thought of developing this activity to discover the roots of our common life throughout the centuries. Cultural heritage is all the values ??of Devoll, which is rich and has a national identity in terms of folklore, ethnography, traditional clothing, dances. This year, the Heritage Sector is committed to involving all students and young people, who are ambassadors for the preservation and promotion of these values, but also heirs among generations of an identity that makes us proud in Albania."

Meanwhile, choreographer Nikolla Ceka highlighted the great folkloric wealth of Devoll, where a special place is occupied by the Devoll dance, which is considered a treasure, emblem and crown of every Devoll.

"Devoll is a truly vast treasure, especially in terms of folk dances and that in general, because the very life of the Devolli is written through dances. In Devoll, we mention the girls' dances such as the Dardhare, Beratçe, Trëndelinë and many others, while for the boys we have the Kaçakshe dance, etc. but what we have as a treasure, emblem and crown of every Devolli that wears on its head is the Devolli dance. We are proud of this rich folklore that we have and as you can see, we do an excellent job of passing it on to generations."

This activity, organized within the framework of the National Cultural Heritage Day, turned Devolli into a living scene of traditions, where the younger generations became an active part of preserving and promoting our identity. Among the folk costumes, handicrafts, traditional dishes and dances, a clear message was conveyed. Heritage is the greatest asset that unites us and makes us proud generation after generation./ CNA