Faith, Kurban Ritual and Traditional Oil Wrestling at the Chilia Plateau in Northwestern Evros

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