The Muslim Board of Trustees and the Regional Muftiate in Plovdiv invite Plovdiv citizens and guests to the celebration of the "Day of Ashure", which will take place on Friday, July 28, at 12.30 in front of the Dzhumaya Mosque.

"'Ashure Day" is a holiday celebrated on the Muslim calendar, but has its genesis in all Abrahamic religions. The holiday is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Muharrem in the Muslim calendar. According to tradition, on this day Muslims in Bulgaria brew ashure and distribute it to their neighbors, whether Christian or Muslim. Ashouret is a dessert of boiled and sugar-sweetened wheat, corn, raisins, walnuts and other dry products, according to the place and tradition of the community. The celebration of Ashoure Day is an occasion to unite all humanity and is considered a common value of all major religions.

The organizers invite Plovdiv residents to join the celebration, which will begin with a brief welcome and explanation of the importance of the " Ashure Day" messages of peace, solidarity, understanding, compassion, tolerance. In addition to the distribution of ashure in front of the Jumaya Mosque, young people in traditional Turkish costumes will treat the guests with Turkish sherbet, and then there will be a ritual - a sema dedicated to the holiday, which will be performed by the only dervish in Bulgaria - Plovdiv's Vasil Tosev.

There are several legends about the "Day of Ashure". One connects the holiday with the meaning of the word "Ashoure", which derives from the name of the Arabic number "asherah" and means "ten". And because this holiday is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Muharrem in the Islamic calendar - Hijra has been named - "Ashoure" or "the day of Ashoure". The second tradition is related to Noah's Ark, where those who were saved from the flood found 10 kinds of food and with them they prepared this jam, which, because of the number of ingredients, they called ashure.  

"'Ashure' Day" symbolizes positivity, happiness, grace and that is why the Muslim Board and the District Mufti's Office in Plovdiv wish everyone health, happiness and prosperity.

" Ashure Day" 2023 is supported by the Municipality of Plovdiv as part of the Cultural Calendar of the city, in the part to support the celebrations of ethnic communities in Plovdiv.