Final competitions and great folk festivities ended yesterday at Meljač for the 31st Brnaze festival, organized by the association ‘Alka’.
Thousands of visitors from all over the Cetina region and other parts of Dalmatia had a chance to experience old folk customs at the 31st Brnaze festival. The ceremony was opened by Davor Ivković with a grand entrance riding in a carriage adorned with “alkariće” and girls in traditional folk costumes.
In the competition for the Alka winner, after three tie-breaks with Bozo Čukušić, Ivano Sablić won with a total of 12 points. All “alkarići” received gifts from the Mayor of Sinj Kristina Križanac, who visited the winner in his home today and presented him with a bicycle.
Another grand competition that took place at the Brnaze festival was rock-throwing. The competition stone weighed 12kg and the longest throw was had by Ante Ladišić from Otočca with a distance of 9.62m. Second place was thrown with a distance of 9.12m by Ivan Čarić from Brnaze and in third from Otočca was Tomislav Marinović with a throwing distance of 8.83m.
Image by ferata.hr
In addition to other competitions, another unique aspect of the festival was the visit by members of the Aero Club Sinj, with paratroopers Andrija Kovačević, Jurica Jagnjić, Mario Grčić and Zlatko Ugrin in attendance.
The cultural part of the program was equipped with traditional songs and dances performed by KUD Brnaze, KUD Sinj, KUD Dinara Kiev, Urig-Island Association for the Preservation of Heritage Cetina region, male choir KUD Vrilo, HKUD Peruća Hrvace, and national gusle players Mirko Crljen, Dujo Sablić and Stipan Marinović.
Image by ferata.hr
Long time program manager for the Brnaze festival prof. Mirko Miloš briefly recalled this event from the 70’s, inviting those to sing along, relax and enjoy.
