In a time of increasing globalization, the preservation of the Bulgarian spirit and traditions is a mission that is at the heart of the "Chelopech - hearth of traditions" festival, held for the first time in 2023. The event took place with great interest in the village of Chelopech, and its organizers are the patriots from the "Zlatnite kukeri" Mummers Club at the "Trud i postoyantsvo 1901" Community center, as well as the municipality of Chelopech.

The first edition of the Ethno festival was held between October 6 and 8 in "Korminesh" Park, and its guests were unanimous - the event successfully achieved its goal of presenting Bulgarian folklore heritage and customs. Boxing champion Tervel Pulev was a special guest of the celebration, and Elka Mincheva and Borislav Mutafchiyski took on the role of hosts.

Among the main events of the festival "Chelopech - hearth of traditions" were the two competition programs, including the participation of mummers and carolers. Their remarkable costumes as well as their artistry and stage behavior were appreciated. The jury included experts in the field of ethnography, ethnology and folklore art, and the total prize fund of the competition program was 12,000 leva.

The idea of creating the Ethno festival started with the chairman of the "Zlatnite kukeri" Mummers Club, Delyan Dzhunev, who subsequently shared it with the mayor of Chelopech Municipality, Eng. Alexi Kesyakov. The idea received the "green light", and soon after that the stage of organizing the festival began.

Dobromir Dzhunev, who works in the international company Dundee Precious Metals, but lives in the village of Chelopech and is the guardian of Bulgarian traditions and customs, was chosen as the director of the Ethno festival. He himself is a participant in the "Zlatnite kukeri" Mummers Club, and his team delights the residents of the village by recreating the Chelopech carol traditions.

When asked if organizing such a festival was easy, Dobromir Dzhunev answers: "There is nothing easy, especially since it requires work with different people from all over Bulgaria - they all have different habits. But I am grateful to the people in the organization for their good work in terms of their given tasks. Everything went very well, and the organization was at a high level."

The inclusion of carol groups in the festival program is not accidental. On the territory of the country there are many festivals with the participation of mummers, but what makes "Chelopech - hearth of traditions" different in this respect is precisely the inclusion of carol formations. This is a well-considered move that will enrich the program of the event and make it even more interesting for visitors.

Dobromir Dzhunev says that the majority of the guests at the Ethno festival were from the Chelopech region and Srednogorie, but there were also visitors from towns such as Sofia, Panagyurishte and others.

Dobromir does not hide his ambition for the festival to become one of national importance. He reveals: "The mission of this festival is to develop to such an extent that we have guests from other countries as well. And we hope its name becomes popular throughout the country."

He admits that he is fascinated by the guests of the festival, who have come to enjoy the beauty of the Bulgarian spirit and traditions. "The audience in such places is not like fans of a football match. People come here to see and preserve Bulgarian traditions and customs, which they then pass on to the next generations," says Dobromir.

Finally, Dobromir Dzhunev thanks the Municipality of Chelopech for the funding of the festival and all the help given in this direction. He is sure that "Chelopech - hearth of traditions" will still attract patriots from all over the country, which in turn will promote the entire region and help its tourism development.