THE WORLD ROMAS’ DAY CELEBRATED IN SKOPJE 

Millennium of Exile and Pogrom

On the occasion of the World Romas’ Day, 8 April, with the Roma hymn “Dzelem, dzelem” sounds, performed by children violinists, the peaceful protest march started in Skopje. The participants in the march laid flowers in front of the Macedonian Parliament building with the message “With love for Macedonia from the Roma people in Macedonia”.

The group led by girls in Roma traditional costumes continued towards Macedonia Square and the Stone Bridge, from where they threw a bottle in the Vardar waters, containing a message for peace and coexistence in the world. The participants threw red roses in the river, too, as a sign of respect for the Roma people – victims of the holocaust, a swell as for the dead, maltreated and discriminated Romas throughout the world.

The cultural-artistic program at the city square enabled the young Roma people to demonstrate with great pride the richness and varieties of the Roma culture. The visitors from all towns in Macedonia enjoyed the music, the dance and the young Roma artists’ poetry.

The celebration of the World Roma People Day was closed with a solemn meeting of the Shuto Orizary municipality council meeting, together with many guests, which took place at the Holiday Inn Hotel.

This year’s celebration entitled “Millennium of exile and pogrom was held to mark to ten centuries of Roma people exile from their original country – India. Similar manifestations were held in many cities worldwide where Roma people live. Bottles containing messages for peace and coexistence, as well as red roses, have flown in many rivers carrying the same symbols and hope.

The central manifestation in Macedonia was organized by the Roma NGOs, in cooperation with the political parties and a great number of citizens from Roma nationality, on the initiative of the Educational Support Center “Dendo vas” from Skopje.