TCN’s Michel Percan enjoys an evening of Istrian folk celebration.
In the long and yet again too warm Saturday night, I found myself on the ancient Roman Forum in Pula. Fortunately the year is 2015 and there were no sign of the fearsome gladiator fights to the death that were held here on the same place some two millennia ago. Beautiful Forum was this time filled with traditional dance clothing of Istrian peasants and with various colorful cultural and artistic organizations that have celebrated the 50th Istrian Folk Music and Dance Review.
Among the expected dignitaries that climbed the feiry stage the biggest impression left Vladimir Torbica from the Istria County, who stated that the hard working nation that has its roots preserved with love and care is the one nation that nobody can root out. This message is the one that certainly sums up experienced in this early August evening. Offering hope in the form of song and dance, that in our increasingly globalized world, Istrian heritage and culture will have its place preserved for future generations to come.
With a traditional recetation and a lot of pride in the spirit of the Istrian dialect Damir Pletikos Koroman opened the festival with words: ” Cila je Istra na jenom mistu” / “All Istria is now in one place”, earning a standing ovation from the more than hundred gathered tourists of all colors and shapes of our world. Yes, there were even Chinese clapping their hands enthusiastically, clearly amazed by what they have seen.
Before the end I learned from one of the organizers of the festival, Mrs. Garbijela Peruško Pujas from SAKUD, that the central festival featured 250 participants (cultural and artistic societies , numerous singers and instrumentalists) from the three local festivals – the central, western and northern Istria , which were elected by three-member Jury (Vladimir Pernić as President and as members Nevia Kožljan and Josip Pino Knapić). It is interesting to mention that this traditional festival or review is being held every summer in another Istrian town spreading the joy of good old times in the shape of songs and dances throught the peninsula.
