A bridge between cultures: Romania’s Lulugi Shukar made a big impression at the Open Heart Festival
At the 20th anniversary edition of the Open Heart Roma Children’s Festival, held on 6 and 7 June 2025 in Veliko Tarnovo, one of the highlights of the programme was the participation of the Romanian Roma troupe “Lulughi Shukar” from Timisoara. They did not just present a dance performance, but created a complete cultural experience that captivated the audience with its authenticity and artistic energy.
During the festival, the troupe created two unique art spaces – a Culinary Pavilion and a Cultural Pavilion, located in Marno Pole Park, Veliko Tarnovo.
In the Culinary Pavilion, they prepared the traditional Roma dish ‘Toksani’ – over 60 litres of aromatic culinary temptation that attracted the attention of visitors. A monitor was set up on site to show the cooking process in real time, and each guest could take home a printed recipe with a brief history of the dish and its ingredients. The dish was not only delicious, but also a symbol of community, hospitality and shared traditions.
The cultural pavilion presented the richness of Roma identity in Romania. Two monitors showed short videos with stories of Roma artists, activists and ordinary people who shared their journey, aspirations and cultural practices. The space included an exhibition of traditional Roma clothing, books, and a photo exhibition featuring famous Roma from Romania’s cultural and political life. This created an opportunity for dialogue between generations and communities, demonstrating that Roma culture is not encapsulated in the past, but is alive, evolving and worthy of respect.
The participation of Lulughi Shukar showed that the Open Heart Festival is building on itself not only as a stage for showcasing talent, but also as an international platform for intercultural exchange. Through dance, cuisine, clothing and stories, the Romanian guests built a bridge between nations and identities that will remain in the hearts of all participants and guests of the anniversary edition.
The exhibitions “20 Years with an Open Heart: A Bridge from Traditions to Dreams” and “The Power of the Roma Woman: Stories Through the Lens” are part of the XXth Children’s Roma Festival “Open Heart” and are realized with the financial support of the National Culture Fund, within the framework of the project “Open Heart – 20 Years of Celebration of Cultural Diversity”, contract No. F-S-2024-22/ 20.12.2024.