More than 5000 Muslims from Blagoevgrad region and the entire country attended the traditional sunnet (circumcision ceremony) in Ribnovo, which according to an old tradition continues 4 days and this year began on February 20, culminating at the end with its festive program on February 23 (Sunday).

Among the official guests of the festive and unique program was the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, as well as the regional muftis of Smolyan, Pazardzhik, Pleven and Dobrich, respectively Nedzhmi Dabov, Abdullah Salih, Murad Boshank and Bilyal Dardzhan.

During the sunnet, which is traditionally organized by a private individual with the assistance of Regional Mufti’s Office – Blagoevgrad, were circumcised 46 children in total.

At the beginning of the festive program the host from Regional Mufti’s Office – Blagoevgrad Aydan Mohamed welcomed the children, their parents and all participants. The floor was given also to the spiritual leader of the Muslims in our country, who gave his instructions on how children can preserve their Islamic identity and how to live as Muslims in democratic Bulgaria.

“Only here, in Blagoevgrad region, the sunnet continues four days and is held in this way. That is why I used to say that this is the “business card” of our region” – shared for Grandmufti.bg Aydan Mohamed, who described chronologically the traditional activities which the local Muslims perform every day during the 4-day celebration for the entire village. The mufti of Blagoevgrad region also explained that according to the number of the children who should be circumcised every year, it is decided if this traditional celebration will be organized one or two times, in the spring and in the autumn.

Author: L. Chausheva