Colorful cultures shine at Asian Festival in Sofia

The event showcased stage performances including music, dances, and martial arts, as well as exhibitions, mini workshops, games, and a variety of cuisines from the participating countries.

SOFIA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Cultural bazaars at the Asian Festival in Bulgaria have always attracted Theodora and her family. Theodora, a local resident, said her family enjoys Asian culture and has attended every edition of the festival to date.

At this year's edition, Theodora, holding a plate of Asian food near the stalls at noon, told Xinhua that she began her visit with a favorite dish from the region.

She said the event was "very good" and added that it offers "an opportunity for cultural exchanges, a chance for people to get acquainted with traditions quite different from ours."

The fifth edition, held under the theme "Unity in Diversity," took place on Saturday in South Park, one of the most beautiful and vibrant locations in the Bulgarian capital. It featured participation from 10 Asian countries, with China leading this year's celebration.

The event showcased stage performances including music, dances, and martial arts, as well as exhibitions, mini workshops, games, and a variety of cuisines from the participating countries.

Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova said at the opening ceremony that the festival has become "an emblem of friendship and development" and is now an important part of Sofia's cultural calendar.

Wang Min, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, described the festival not only as a cultural event, but also as a celebration that brings hearts together.

Ivan Vasilev, deputy mayor of Sofia, said, "Each edition of the festival enriches the cultural life of Sofia and opens a window to the diverse world of Asia."

The event drew a large crowd. Xu Miaomiao, a 44-year-old woman who has lived in Bulgaria for 27 years and cooked traditional Chinese delicacies during the festival, told Xinhua she hoped to make local people more familiar with Chinese culture.

She said that many Bulgarians appreciate both Chinese culture and cuisine.

Vyara, a young mother with two children, said she attended the festival because of her passion for different cultures, especially Asian ones. "The festival is very interesting, very diverse -- so it's a great idea," she said.

Angel Orbetsov, former Bulgarian ambassador to China, said the festival presented a rich palette of events that showcased Asian culture in a picturesque and diverse way. "This event has always been colorful, and I hope the tradition will continue," he added.

The festival, which started in 2017, was organized with support from the Sofia Municipality and Bulgaria's ministries of tourism and foreign affairs. ■