First year of Kali Sara Festival in the Czech Republic attracts hundreds of visitors
On Saturday, 18 May the first year of the Kali Sara Festival was held in the Letňany neighborhood of Prague. Hundreds of visitors attended a rich program full of traditional Romani cuisine, dance and music.
The Kali Sara Festival was held for the first time in the Letňany neighborhood of Prague on 18 May 2024. (PHOTO: Viola Tokárová)
The high point of the event was the exhibition and presentation of a statue of Holy Kali Sara or Saint Sarah, who is a symbol of Romani faith and identity to many. On 10 May 2024 the statue was consecrated in the chapel at the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, and the festival featured a religious ceremony dedicated to her.
“Kali Sara is basically the patron saint of all Romani people. However, many people in Bohemia know nothing about her, which is why we decided to commission her statue and present it to the wider public. We want her to travel around the whole republic and for Kali Sara to become well-known,” said Robert Telvák, a festival organizer.
The aim of the festival was to remind visitors of the richness of the culture and history of the Roma. Visitors were able to sample many performances by leading Romani bands such as Lejla, Duo Band Kladno, or Romens Pardubice, led by Josef Duna.
“Our hits include songs that have really become cult favorites and people sing them at every opportunity,” Duna said. The entire program was moderated by Vojtěch Lavička and David Tišer.
According to organizer Martin Fečo, the festival was intentionally designed to present the best Romani performers. “We wanted to demonstrate that we Roma also know how to put on an event of the highest caliber,” emphasized Fečo.
This first year of the Kali Sara Festival helped bring the culture of the Roma to the wider public and builds on the traditional Romani pilgrimage in France. The organizers hope it will become an annual event.
