Preparations For The Gjirokast철Festival

Resuming the preparations of the National Folkloric Festival of Gjirokast철seems to be the first job of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports (Ministria e Turizmit, Kultur쳬 Rinis롤he Sporteve,)( MTKRS) after the elections, reports Shekulli (10.07.2009), a day after Minister Adrian Turku launched the second phase of preparations for the Festival in the company of district leaders.
The National Folkloric Festival of Gjirokast철will be held from 24 to 29 September 2009 at the castle and at the old historical center of Gjirokast첮 This year participation will be encouraged to increase. From 50 participants in former years, the Festival will number 60 participants in 2009. Competition time for each group will also increase. 30 minutes will now be allowed for each competitor instead of the 20 minutes allowed formerly.
The country is divided in 12 administrative districts. Groups from each district will appear before a selective committee. The (MTKRS) declared last week that the first phase of the competition closed. According to the Ministry, the second phase, which was launched last week, should be over by the end of the month of July. This year, MTKRS has put more resources in the hands of the organizers of the Festival. Each district will be awarded 700,000 Albanian Lek (ALL) instead of 500,000 Albanian Lek (ALL) awarded previously, according to the Metropol (10.07.2009).
The Gjirokast철festival is the greatest activity in the field of the national spiritual heritage, quotes Shekulli (10.07.2009) in statements made by MTKRS Minister, Ardian Turku. According to the newspaper, originally the Festival was held once every 4 years and recently once every 5 or 6 years.
Other festivals held in Albania throughout the year include: the Festival of Polyphony (Festivali I Polifonis멻 the Festival of the Dibran Chamber (Festivali i Od쳠Dibrane); the Festival of Clarionets (Festivaeli i G쳮etave); Šthe Festival of Fifes (Festivali I Fyejve); the Festival of Cyl롄yjare (Festivali i Cyl쳠Dyjare), and; the Festival of Dual Dance (Festivali i Valles Dyshe), according to the Shekulli.
The first National Folkloric Festival of Gjirokast철was held in 1968. But according to the Metropol, (10.07.2009) the Festival was organized at the old castle of the city every 5 years. In 2000 the Festival was moved from Gjirokast철to the castle of the city of Berat and in 2000 it returned to Gjirokast첮