President Milanović at the “Konji Bijelci” Event in Babina Greda: Preserve Your Traditions and Identity
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović visited today the 44th “Konji Bijelci” [White Horses] cultural event held in Babina Greda, a municipality in Vukovar-Srijem County. In opening the event, President Milanović emphasized its importance for the preservation of customs and identity. “Babina Greda maintains its tradition without pomp, as a folk custom – and let it remain that way. Preserve your traditions and identity. That is essentially who we are and what makes us who we are,” said President Milanović.
President Milanović also recalled his childhood spent in Sinj and the town’s connection with horses. “The bond between Sinj, the Sinjska Alka tournament, and horse breeding is quite deep. Although my ancestors didn’t race in the Sinjska Alka – they were peasants, people who lived off the land, and life was relatively hard – they kept horses. I used to look forward to seeing the horses there. They were working horses, not noble or specially bred, just ordinary working horses that did their job,” President Milanović reminisced, adding that today, in both Babina Greda and the Sinj area, those horses have mostly become ceremonial parade horses.
The traditional 44th cultural and economic event “Konji Bijelci” began with a parade of festively decorated wedding carriages, followed by competitions in various skills and everyday tasks that were once common – such as assembling horse-drawn carriages, harnessing horses, driving a traditional horse-drawn sled (palija), and traditional messenger-style horseback riding.
The event is organized by the Babina Greda Horse Breeding Association, which has been active since 1942 and this year marks its 83rd anniversary. Through the organization of “Konji Bijelci,” Babina Greda preserves its heritage, passes customs on to younger generations, and showcases how people used to live and perform physically demanding work to support their families. Throughout all this, the role of horses – noble animals that played a vital role in their lives – is especially highlighted.
“Konji Bijelci” is a two-day event that was first held in 1981. Prior to the main programme, which includes the announcement of competition winners, a Lipizzaner Horse Fair was held, featuring a showcase competition of two-horse carriage driving.
In addition to President Milanović, those who addressed the attendees at the opening included Franjo Gregorović, President of the Babina Greda Horse Breeding Association; Josip Krnić, Head of the Municipality of Babina Greda; Marinko Beljo, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and delegate of the Prime Minister; and Petar Šimić, Member of Parliament and delegate of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament. President Milanović was accompanied by Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas