Tradition to the fore at Mnarja

Activities to mark Mnarja, one of the most important traditional feasts in the Maltese calendar, are to open this Saturday when the Town Crier is to herald the Mnarja equine races in a re-enactment of the bandu in Republic Street, Valletta.

The Town Crier will be accompanied by a small contingent of soldiers in period costume and carrying the palji (banners) as he announces the races along the upper part of Republic Street from 10 a.m.

The bandu will be repeated at 7 p.m. in Mdina and Rabat starting from the Corte Capitinale, Misrah il-Kunsill in Mdina and ending near St.Paul’s shrine in Rabat where the palji will be blessed. The palji will be presented to the winners of the races, traditionally held early in the morning of Mnarja (June 29) on the road between Rabat and Siggiewi.

The Agrarian Society, with the support of the Ministry for Resources and Rural Development, will hold the traditional show of fruit, vegetables and farm livestock at Buskett on June 28 and 29.

The show opens to the public at 5p.m. on Saturday 28^th and remains open till midnight. A parade of horse-driven carts and carriages which start off from Saqqajja, Rabat at 7 p.m. en route to Buskett where a programme of folk and popular music will be held till midnight. It will be organised by the National Folkore Commission. Traditional Maltese food and pastries will be available.

On Sunday 29^th June, Mass will be said near Grand Master Pinto’s hunting lodge at Buskett at 6.30 a.m. and the agricultural show opens at 7.30 a.m. The judging of livestock, hunting dogs and equines commences at 7.45am..

Entrance is free but the Agrarian society warned visitors to refrain from entering into the paddocks allocated to equines and bovines and to keep a safe distance from other livestock.