The jubilee 10th Homeland Days, organized by the Union of North Bačka District Serb Associations, which nurture the culture and tradition of Serbs from the other side of the Drina, were ceremonially opened last night in the Great Hall of the City Hall.

On behalf of the city of Subotica and the Mayor Stevan Bakić, the beginning of the event was made official by Srđan Samardžić, City Council member in charge of the economy, who said that the Homeland Days were there to preserve and strengthen ties between Serbs from everywhere.

‘First of all, I express my satisfaction that by organizing the Homeland Days, the Union of Serb Associations has translated very successfully into action its idea to tear the memories of the past and features of the homeland from oblivion, but also to encourage the cultivation of diversity and tolerance at the same time. This event preserves and promotes the rich cultural heritage, customs and traditions of both our people who came to these parts in the early nineties of the last century from the war-torn areas of the former Yugoslavia, and our compatriots who remained at their hearths in the adjacent countries’ – said Srđan Samardžić.

Samardžić added that it was very important that we resolutely and persistently preserve our language and alphabet, our customs, traditions, culture, faith and unity, without which, according to him, we as people and as a nation can neither exist nor last.

The Homeland Days event was conceived ten years ago by four associations: Banija Homeland Association Subotica, Sloga Serbian Homeland Club, Bajmok Serb Refugee and Immigrant Association and Zavičaj Serb Immigrant and Refugee Club Pačir, and today the Union of North Bačka District Serb Associations is richer by six others.

‘What guided us ten years ago to start this event was the fact that we had come to this region, that in this region we wanted to present the best of us, our culture, traditions, customs and all the best that we had brought to this environment that had welcomed us. Thus, on 15 September 2013, the first Homeland Days were held, and thanks to the understanding of the local self-government, the province and the state, this event continues, and while it does, it is the best that we can present, which is a festival of youth, culture, and tradition, folk customs and everything that makes our people recognizable’ – said Saša Gravorac, president of the UNBDSA supervisory board.

This year’s program of the 10th Homeland Days allows our fellow citizens to become acquainted with the culture of Serbs from Lika, Kordun, Slavonia, Herzegovina, the Republic of Srpska, etc.

‘People could not take anything with them from their centuries-old hearths but their religion, culture and customs. We dedicated the activities of this year’s program largely to our youngest, and there are also humanitarian actions, as well as cultural and artistic programs. In the coming days, in Subotica, we are promoting humanity, culture, our Serbian history, tradition’ – said Miroslav Karan, president of the Union of North Bačka District Serb Associations.

At Homeland Days ceremonial opening, the traditional award for the largest Serbian family went to the Keleuva family, a single mother with six children.

The plaque of the Union of NBD Serb Associations for the enormous contribution to Serbian literature and overall creativity was presented to the writer Pero Zubac, while appreciation plaques for many years of commitment, effort, work and contribution both to the work of the Union and to event organization and holding were presented to Saša Gravorac and Borivoje Vukajlović and Željko Tintor, and the Charter, being the highest UNBDSA recognition, was presented to Mayor Stevan Bakić.

Source and photo: Union of Serbs from the Region – Subotica Danas