GELA, Bulgaria, July 31 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 musicians from all over Bulgaria participated on Saturday in a national bagpipes competition held in Gela, 250 km southeast of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
Their vibrant songs filled the meadows around Gela -- a small ancient village located in the heart of the Bulgarian Rhodopi Mountain, which was said to be the birthplace of the mythical Thracian singer Orpheus.
The competition, combined with the traditional annual meeting of this village which takes place on Sunday, attracted about 10, 000 people.
Folk songs, dances, and dozens of barbecue grills serving national meals such as cheverme and kebapche topped up the festive atmosphere.
"The music of the bagpipes helps us to touch the depths of the Bulgarian roots and to keep the tradition," Stefan Gerdjikov, one of the event organizers, said at the opening ceremony.
The Jury head, Milcho Vassilev, who is also Dean of the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, said this event was unique. "This is Bulgaria," said the professor.
The youngest participant in the competition was Stoyan Gushkov, only 7, while the oldest was Anastas Ivanov, 87, who has trained thousands of bagpipers.
A Dutch family living in a small village nearby, and a Hungarian man also participated in this competition.
