I just got back to Serbia and immediately found myself at a huge Sabantuy festival in Novi Sad. A real Sabantuy with chak-chak and echpochmak pastries. Just so you know: this is an annual Tatar-Bashkir festival celebrating the end of the harvest season, celebrated for over a thousand years now. These days, though, it's not just farm workers who celebrate it.

We had about a hundred people show up, which was unexpected. Everything was organized really well. It felt like I was home. Whether intentional or by chance, the event was right near Tatar Brdo.

A couple of years ago, this neighborhood's name got me curious enough to dig up the fact that back in the 19th century in Serbia, you could actually become a Tatar and get paid for it. Sadly, those days are gone. Now nobody pays you just for being Tatar :(

The celebration was held on the banks of the Danube. At some point, a Serb came by in a boat. Out of curiosity, he steered over to see what was going on. They explained everything to him in Serbian and invited him to join, but he was shy because he was only wearing shorts. They gave the guest some sweet echpochmak pastries. In return, he took the kids for a ride in his boat. It was really sweet.

Thanks to the organizers and everyone who came. If you didn't make it this year, please come next year!

PS. While we're at it, listen to Başkarma - Ber genä minutka (and read the translation). They're great.