Nearly 200 participants from the 'Surva' mummers festival visited Sofia (see pics)

Nearly 200 participants in costumes and 'kukeri' masks took part today, January 5, in Borisova Garden as part of the "Surva" international festival of masquerade games The event, which as part part of the tradition takes palce in the town of Pernik and has over 30 editions in its history, is visiting Sofia.

The festival began with a mask parade presented by survakari groups from Pernik and Radomir. Participants from the villages of Meshtitsa, Gabrovdol, Rasnik, Chernogora, Noevtsi, and Stefanovo took part in the event.

According to the organisers, the participants recreated the magic of "Surva" and showed why this festival is included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Photos by BTA

The event is part of the pre-festival activities leading up to the international festival of masquerade games "Surva", which will take place from January 24 to 26 in the central square of Pernik, with more than 130 groups participating.

Many residents of Sofia gathered in Borisova Garden to enjoy the masquerade games.