Chilia, NORTHWESTERN EVROS, Greece - August 2, 2026: Wrestlers compete during the traditional oil-wrestling tournament held as part of the annual Bektashi–Alevi festival on the Chilia (Seçek) plateau in northwestern Evros, near the Greek–Bulgarian border. The competition brings together amateur and professional wrestlers from Greece and neighbouring Balkan countries, preserving one of the region's longest-standing cultural traditions. Photo: Ioannis Mylonelis / MedPress

Chilia, NORTHWESTERN EVROS, Greece - August 1 - 2, 2026: Members of the Bektashi–Alevi community gather on the Chilia (Seçek) plateau in northwestern Evros for their annual religious and cultural festival near the Greek–Bulgarian border. The multi-day celebration begins with the communal kurban ritual, during which sacrificial animals are prepared and shared among participants, before continuing with the ceremonial arrival of the ağa and traditional oil-wrestling competitions. Wrestlers and visitors travel from Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, North Macedonia and other neighbouring countries, highlighting the festival's cross-border cultural significance and its role in preserving the traditions of the Bektashi–Alevi community in Thrace.
Photos: Ioannis Mylonelis / MedPress