Bulgaria’s Muslim Minority With One of the Most Unique Wedding Traditions in the World

The New Year also represents new beginnings. And what symbolises a fresh start more than a wedding? We are taking you now to a special and unique wedding in Bulgaria where Pomaks live. The Pomaks are a small Muslim community which converted to Islam during the Ottoman era. Every winter their villages become festive as they celebrate their weddings in a manner which keeps their tradition and history alive. Katarina Petrovic joined them during a ceremony in Ribnovo and sent us this special report.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
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[@handevveer4681]

I am a Christian Bulgarian and I have a lot of Pomak friends. We love you dear brothers and sisters and treasure these traditions. Pomak people are indeed one of the most hard working and decent people in the world!

[@user-gb9js6cp6v]

Bulgarian CAN NOT be an Authentic Christian. Gentiles are NOT CHRISTIAN.

[@Sa7biUK]

Its good to see there are still non-Islamophobic Christians in Bulgaria. Respect to you from a Pakistani Muslim!

[@user-gb9js6cp6v]

@Sa7biUK Salam, bro.. Listen. Gentiles cannot be Authentic Christians. Read Al Injeel Gospel to confirm.

[@nikmatummi6484]

​@@BulgarLION681then who are they in the video?

[@manna19590]

Why don't you embrace Islam, brother, and become one of us? Islam is for all. Peace.

[@motazksa4506]

I never knew we had brothers and sisters in Bulgaria, Allah bless❤

[@BalkanskaMechka]

May Allah guide you ❤

[@ahmedmus7684]

As a Christian Bulgarian I am glad that my homeland is such a multicultural and multireligious country and that we all live in peace, mutual respect and harmony with each other. We are all proud to call ourselves Bulgarians in spite of our differences which is amazing. Bulgaria can be an example for the world!

[@khansahb8]

Your name is Ahmed and you're a Christian?

[@user-wu5jj6ff6i]

God bless Muslims around the world

[@Athirahindustani]

They are more bulgarian , rooted in their original culture, trafitions than being a moslem.

[@laanaa26]

Anyone with any culture or background can be muslim its just religion not a nationally ​@Athirahindustani

[@stonew1927]

God bless All People around the world . . .

[@laanaa26]

@@stonew1927 Ameen

[@user-vb6df4sd8d]

@@Athirahindustaniwhy is a pagan like yourself speaking about things that do not concern it??

[@tarikmehmedika2754]

MasAllah, i would love to meet our muslim brothers Pomaks 😊 Assalamu alaykum from Bosnia

[@robertmcnamara5407]

What an amazing video with such a beautiful tradition. World Heritage should list these traditions amongst it's treasures.

[@ZZ-oc2eb]

Definitely! Very unique to their culture as well as embracing and keeping Islam. It’s like us African Muslims we are committed to Islam but still have our culture and traditions so our culture isn’t stripped away from us through arabization and islam.

[@ruhelkhan7986]

It’s not solely muslim wedding. It’s a mixture of a culture with muslim weddings.

[@anisfatima1559]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏

[@Athirahindustani]

What is moslem wedding ? Seperating men nd women , no music, dance just mourning 🤣

[@Athirahindustani]

Wish you could learn something from them nd stop pretending to be arabs. Embrace ur roots, culture, language 🙏

[@Athirahindustani]

What is moslem name, moslem wedding, moslem culture ? All the so called moslem names, culture , wedfing rituals existed even before Mohammed .

[@almurabitun]

​@@Athirahindustani ignore him he is stupid. Islam never came to erase culture but preserve it providing things are not against the teachings

[@ShaheenKhan-xw3we]

Marvellous ! I am a practicing Muslim , and love the Turkish culture , and people , and this is amazing . I wish they keep their traditions

[@ajam3086]

They're not Turkish 🤦‍♀️

[@ShaheenKhan-xw3we]

@@ajam3086 l know they are not Turkish 🇹🇷, but the program was a TRT one ( they are Turkish)

[@Perihanydz]

​@@ajam3086most muslim Bulgarians live in Turkey and they define themselves as Turks

[@Perihanydz]

Most muslim Bulgarians live in Turkey and they defin themselves as Turks

[@ajam3086]

@@Perihanydz national identity doesn't erase cultural ethnic identity. Traditions were there before the founding of a "nation"

[@muhammadroshanmughees1586]

This is so beautiful. I would love to see this one day when I visit bulgaria

[@amalsoudi5952]

What a beautiful people, and amazing tradition! I will love to visit that city one day! Salaam to you from USA.

[@drattiyasskinmattersclinic3457]

They have preserved their traditions so well, I would like to keep this village visit in my list of tourist spots, Insh Allah ❤

[@lissakaye610]

She looks like a living doll! Such beautiful makeup, so stunning. The tradition of the mirror and closing her eyes leaving her fathers home and entering her husbands is so incredibly touching. ❤

[@ytc257]

Jesus is a messenger of God

[@sheilagadde5975]

Hope these lovely people can preserve their Wonderful Culture and Values.

[@moonzdrop9811]

Thank you , that's beautiful ❤️ salute to Bulgaria 😊

[@digitaldina]

i hope they preserve the beautiful and various cultures in the region, despite the conflicts between them they all inhabit a beautiful region and reflect their love for it in their traditions

[@MuslimahTiktok]

Wow you learn something new everyday. Absolutely beautiful.

[@matldn2697]

The inter mixing of culture and all faiths is stunning.

[@LOVE5JAB]

Very beautiful Bride, and love the culture of this Bulgarian tribe..

[@muhammedriaz4478]

Beautiful tradition….video,is educational…..peace and love to all communities in difficult times

[@biancashingles8225]

I love the POMAK MUSLIM people ❤❤❤❤

[@blususpect]

I'm definitely have to see this for myself one day, I never knew of the Polmaks until today, what a interesting culture

[@coldogno7]

everybody deserve to practice their own culture

[@NK-ht3fo]

Thank you for highlighting

[@tugbaa4401]

So similar to our weddings in Türkiye, especially in small villages. In cities they have started to change but in small places, the weddings are more or less the same with them, except the face painting and mirror. I have never seen that in Türkiye.

[@perizat1888]

Oh my God. The henna tradition. I am a Pamirian and in my childhood we used to colour our hands with henna, wrap it and sleep with it overnight. Their features are also so Pamirian. Pomak i guess is very much related to Pomerak or whatever ... They are definitely from Pamir. I have seen Bulgarians in the Pamir. Come and visit the hometown of your ancestors some day, dear Bulgarians.

[@brightbright400]

Very similar to Irani, Pakistani, Tajikistani, Turkish, etc. weddings…

[@simplica1]

Interesting. Never seen this before. Thanks for the info!

[@lovely-mk4rt]

I love learning about traditions worldwide. Thank you 🌺

[@daizz5500]

This is CULTURE not ISLAM

[@mohammadnoor9697]

for islam asian, culture and islam is one dear

[@daizz5500]

@@mohammadnoor9697 that's what those people THINK, not what is allowed in Islam.

[@galaxys4227]

Definitely not Islam

[@lightscameras4166]

Just because people accept islam, doesn’t mean that they forget their culture. Saying “this is culture not Islam” is pretty stupid because Islam and culture co-exist together. Arab culture, Indo-Pakistani Culture, Turkish culture and Bulgarian culture are all part of Islamic culture

[@daizz5500]

@@lightscameras4166 lol, tell me that you don't know what is haram without telling me you don't know what is haram.

[@syedabukhari2643]

It’s beautiful ceremony ❤❤❤❤❤

[@marianseren9137]

What a beautiful culture Congratulations

[@maymellor7592]

What a beautiful ceremony ❤❤❤❤❤

[@sansnom508]

Well, that was completely fascinating! Many thanks and warm good wishes from Canada.

[@82medical]

Congratulations to the newlywed couple! Ma sha Allah what beautiful people and traditions. Sending lots of love to my Pomak brothers and sisters ❤

[@ivayola]

well done, thank you for showing this beautiful tradition from my country to the world❤

[@Modest_Life_Style]

Nice:) However, it’s important to point out that their cultural traditions that we saw, are not Islamic, they are just their culture. Typically, Muslim weddings are simple and definitely do not mandate for such elaborate practices, as sweet as they are. Muslims typically will incorporate their culture into their weddings, which is absolutely fine. So each Muslim wedding can be completely different from another. As long as the basic guidelines to deem them married are met…these are simple and few (maybe 1 or 2 things), they are free to incorporate the beauty of their culture as they like.

[@shaikhrashid287]

Alhamdullilah aswrbhu beautiful traditions you are following mr mayor with regards from India 🇮🇳 maharashtra osmanabad shaikh Rashid

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

What a wonderfull tradition, nice to see our muslim bretheren and asalam alaikum.🌹

[@mks6148]

Wow beautiful culture 🫶🏾

[@shamamcwann5196]

Very interesting video. Thanks ❤

[@shahzrayn5464]

Wow..that's beautiful tradition..🎉🎉🎉 May Allah bless you n your wife untill jannah bro..❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@zahidaperveen3631]

This match to pakistani chitral culture as well as pakistani culture beautiful❤from pakistan.

[@hassanaftab1270]

Chitrals is destroying culture by radical mullahs.

[@nishasook1138]

Very informative and interesting.

[@furqon.design]

Their language sounds really beautiful

[@nonozebra4196]

Assalamualaikum to all my pomak brothers and sisters ❤❤❤

[@ZZ-oc2eb]

This is awesome to know about

[@rekakhanom6931]

Wow too much traditional and culture can take you from the spiritual journey of life as a Muslim.

[@user-qp1zh4eo2d]

Nice tradition and culture

[@asifamalik1387]

Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰 my beautiful brothers n sisters of Bulgaria May Allah swt ease ur hardships n May u prosper in ur land 🤲

[@iddi2278]

Lovely

[@MullBatoora-kf6cj]

Love you all my bro and Sis of Ribnova Bulgaria 🇵🇰.

[@user-mw8hq3dq7d]

Seems like Pretty Fascinating Tradition.

[@Abuamina001]

Charming video.

[@AhmedAli-oe8si]

Beautiful people strong devoted muslims saw a documentary about them . Really proud of you people . Much love from Egypt.❤❤❤❤❤

[@april147]

How fascinating!! 😍 May Allah always keep them in the right path

[@anisahussein2056]

Impressive 😍❤

[@laanaa26]

Mashallah ❤

[@shnawdude03]

Inspiring and beautiful. 👏

[@MdSakil-qk5kv]

Assalam,alaikum,,trt,world,i,am,indian,your,news,are,perfect,🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@adityabhatnagar9053]

great

[@hoomanAdnan]

❤ from Bangladesh 🇧🇩

[@yasminyoungjermjun1752]

Masha Allah

[@pearlsof5534]

Did not know that Bulgarians were also Muslims. Alhamdullilah

[@crimsonfarts6856]

most of us aren't

[@dagmaramadieva7241]

❤️❤️❤️

[@shaziahafeez801]

This is not islam representation..its a community rituals they are following and in today world people had adopted ans mixed the rituals from around the community.its not Islam...Islam has simple wedding with no burden on any party with witness for marriage to stay long...islam is a beautuful simple religion..which we human or any country cannot define...as media mixing cimmunity stuff and human nature and acceotance has madr things acc to them..real Islam is perfect and by the God..

[@Dinosaur315]

I have ancestry from Thrace and I consider pomaks as my brothers and sisters. We are all thracians just with different identities.

[@comradeleppi2000]

Thrace means?

[@Dinosaur315]

@@comradeleppi2000 What are you trying to say?

[@syedsuhailkhalid6405]

As salaam alaikum dear Pomac muslim brothers!

[@sahinurbegum642]

Omgggg very very beautiful looking bride 👰‍♀ 😍 ❤️ 💖 💕 😘

[@bbbking159bbb8]

❤

[@dyanica_8267]

If you actually make good research on Islam, you can tell by the first minute that it's no muslim culture. This is culture is from the ethnicity not from the religion. The prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, whom the muslims follow, has never had such a wedding or has promoted such weddings. And there are many things here that contradict Islam. Clearly they think that this is part of islam cause they learned it like that, but I hope they can learn what it truly is. People should practice their culture with an understanding of where it comes from and we shouldn't spread false information!

[@rakamu2940]

In malaysia, we also muslim wear henna like this one day before wedding, but this few years its bevome trend where most people decorate the henna like indian style.

[@taiza461]

😍

[@zarkanazbibishah8500]

In Islam its the man who provides for everything thd wedding and after. The women dose not bring anything at all

[@comradeleppi2000]

Even if they have love marriage or start living in city they should come back to village for their marriage. What a beautiful tradition. That mirror tradition is so beautiful meaningful yet sad for a woman, but anyways this culture is beautiful. I have never seen bride's face painted on her wedding.

[@62Cristoforo]

Such a strange and mysterious tradition to watch, for Westerners like myself. The background music was a good choice.

[@TinRaTin]

Nothing against our Pomak brothers and sisters. But gelina (even though this is not the name we use for it)is not at all unique to them and it would be a bit strange to have it verified by unesco as sort of their thing. Speaking as Goranien from Kosovo, we have the same tradition of painting the face, although not as popular now. It is still a part of tradition by usually muslims from Prizren to Gorani in Albania even Torbesi in North Macedonia and even albaniens in Northern Macedonia... Strange though that arranged marriages is even still a thing...

[@bluewren65]

I agree, arranged marriages give neither the bride nor groom much agency. These traditions can survive while giving the couple more say in the "with whom and when".

[@javaidsdar]

who are pomak, so by blood they are not turk? are they slavic ancestery.

[@sahizasahil7129]

Yes they’re Slavic just like Bosnian

[@HalalBint]

The clothing everything about it is Yafai (South Yemeni) traditional clothing just search up Yafai south yemeni clothing and you would see everything is literally Yafai just the makeup is the unique part. Sub Hun Allah.

[@rimamardini5821]

اليمن يمن بينما هدول قرباط او غجر

[@perizat1888]

Ancestors of the modern Bulgarians are Pamirians, a Persian speaking population living in Central Asia. Therefore, it is not a wonder that they are Muslims. According to recent studies by anthropologists, clues about the ancestors of the modern Bulgarians could be found in the valleys of the Pamir Mountains in Asia. “What recent studies show is that most probably we are of Pamirian origin. We have similarities with the Ishkashim ethnic group, the Kalash, and others. We are talking here about true anthropologic similarities. There are many similarities in customs and traditions too, but of course there are differences, as Bulgarians left Central Asia some 2,000 years ago.”

[@perizat1888]

@@syedibtisamhaider9257 They were thought to be Slavic but it has been proved that they are of Pamirian/Persian origin. Pamirians also look like Europeans. Just google this: памирцы внешность.

[@aminmavric7501]

​@@syedibtisamhaider9257 Most of the Slavic languages use either "Dan" or "Den" for day. Though it's interesting that in Urdu it's something similar.

[@perizat1888]

​​@@aminmavric7501Persian is an Indo-European language. Therefore there are many words with the similar roots in Persian and European languages. For instance: modar (Persian) - mutter (German) - mother (English) - mama (Russian); 2. padar (Persian), father (English) vater (German); papa (Russian); 3. Barodar (Persian), bruder (German), brother (English), brat (Russian) and etc People tend to lose their languages when they move to other places. There are so many Turks across Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and etc) that don't speak Turkish anymore. At least I know some. They know that they are Turkish but they don't speak Turkish and speak Russian instead. People lose their languages, religion and etc but there are certain customs and traditions that are passed from generation to generation and are always there.

[@NisCho754]

@@syedibtisamhaider9257thanks for sharing I had no idea! As a Bengali from Bangladesh I was very surprised when I got to know that a “random” word like devar (brother-in-law) is the same in Bulgarian as in our languages

[@erumrahms7142]

​@@NisCho754wow. Even in Urdu/ Hindi we use devar for BIL of a woman.

[@MaitreeSG]

They incorporate a lot of their culture in the wedding. Same as other Islamic wedding around the world from different cultures.. Pure Islamic wedding are more simple actually. The mirror thing, how does that work if husband dont stay same area or from another country? Or the bride was not born there? 🤔 Just wondering

[@yazzbazzs3602]

Why they can't practice their religion and mosques are closed?? Sad to hear that ngl

[@muhammadnadeem4909]

Love to see Baulgaria. A beautiful country.

[@Boom_112]

Beautiful ❤

[@TRBs20_]

POMAKS ARE NOT BULGARIANS, TURKS OR OTHERS, POMAKS ARE POMAKS THATS ALL

[@asrofmohamed8456]

Wish to visit my brothers muslim ...the Pomak muslim in Bulgaria...nice tradition

[@dandellionsy6537]

I never travelled to Bulgaria especially this place. May I ask if anyone knows whether it is safe for a single traveller to go around in Sofia or this place, especially for women? Thank you

[@Sa7biUK]

Pretty much every girl here is a knockout. Must be something in the water because they are easily more attractive than 90% of Turkish or Greek girls. Masha'Allah!

[@cocoaorange1]

Interesting . I never saw a Bulgarian wedding.

[@rahma4043]

Beautiful culture

[@darkerm76]

its unfortunate so see such free mixing.. its not permissible but its now everywhere.. May Allah Guide us All.

[@Kulf118]

I was searching for this comment, alhamdulilah. Weird how no muslim pointed this out.

[@zahrareaume]

I was thinking the same thing about many of the traditions...more cultural, not so much Islamic.

[@aminaisha3475]

​@zahrareaume Islam gives room for peoples' culture as long as it isn't contradictory with dictates of the deen. Yes, free mixing isn't permissible as pointed out by @darkerm76. We pray Allah forgive us our transgressions.

[@salamkitchen707]

Manshallah ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Sufficient4UsIsAllah]

It’s maa shaa Allah ما شاء الله

[@Ramdelfalcao2024]

Turkey need to keep eye on there former colonies minorities because they being tortured some places

[@luciatheron1621]

She goes from pure to pure proving her innocence and the groom? ....no thanks.

[@momsum]

this kinda make up is not allowed for Islamic/Muslim wedding .. it's their own tradition

[@FrogLehane]

Extremely poorly researched, uninformative video that makes emotional points and not ones based on reason, history, or truth. I see what you're doing and it goes against humanity and against any real religion. Stop creating propaganda and trying to separate people based on ethnicity and religion. Shame on you.

[@sarwatmir1607]

Love ❤❤❤ Muslims traditional wedding we have also traditional wedding in Northern Pakistan but we don't make do these glitter make up on face

[@millitigerish9636]

Muslims weddings r simple NOT like this... Try to follow Islam completely.. For more inform you can read translation and commentary of Qur'an.. (Only one Holy book of Muslims).. U can also read Biography of our beloved & last Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) ❤❤

[@hamix0137]

beta agar tune unper apna wahabio wala deen musalat kerne ki koshish ki to unho ne islam hi chor dena hai

[@denizliberal]

TURKISH MINORITY !!

[@whatever2206]

They arent Turks !!!!!! Those are native balkan and european muslims.

[@polha4966]

islamized slavs not turks....just you the turks you call everyone muslim a turk lol

[@valentindimitrov7890]

Помаците са българи ,мюсулманската вяра са я прихванали насила от вас турците по време на османското иго!

[@valentindimitrov7890]

​@@whatever2206ТЕ СА БЪЛГАРИ

[@a.a.a3214]

THIS IS NOT ISLAMIC WAY OF WEDDING

[@galaxys4227]

This wedding is a culture got nothing to do wih Islam,Islamic wedding is according to the teaching of Prophet Mohammed SAW

[@kauserbegum1972]

Ye koun se country ka ye koun se Muslim hai i am Indian Muslim girl