2/11/2006
The wrestling fest(panigiri) in Alan Tepe

Mina Machairopoulou Source: CETI © Eastern Macedonia - Thrace Region

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Professional and amateur wrestlers wrestle at the area of Alan Tepe of the mountainous Rodopi for three days every year in the end of August with the accompaniment of daouli (membranophone) and zournas(aerophone). Crowds of locals and foreigners, peddlers, people setting up kiosks and outdoor taverns and wandering musicians are all gothered every year to enjoy the contests. This fest is very old and long ago it had an exclusively religious character. In the course of time it lost its religious character.