At 12:00 today, the siren system throughout the country will be activated for 2 minutes in memory of Hristo Botev and those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria, dariknews.bg reported.
When the signal is given, all pedestrians and vehicles in the settlements in the country should stop their movement on the streets and squares and remain in place.
From 11:30 a.m., a solemn ceremony will be held in front of the bust-monument of the great Bulgarian poet, revolutionary, publicist and public figure in Borisova Garden in Sofia. On the occasion of the anniversary, a ceremonial changing of the guard of honor will be held in front of the building of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
With rituals of laying wreaths and flowers today representative formations from the Land Forces will honor the memory of the heroes during the city-wide celebrations and in Kalofer, Plovdiv, Pleven, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, Blagoevgrad, Asenovgrad, Belene, Svishtov, Shumen, Smolyan, Sliven, Gorna Oryahovitsa, the village of Tsenovo (Municipality of Chirpan), Kazanlak, Pavel Banya, Dupnitsa and the village of Skravena.
Vratsa honored last night the feat of Botev and his detachment and those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria, BNT reported.
The dawn inspection was traditionally held on the occasion of the 149th anniversary of the death of the revolutionary poet.
Thousands of people from Vratsa and participants in the march "On the footsteps of Botev's squad".
Among the guests at the solemn torch-lighting ceremony were the Speaker of the National Assembly Natalia Kiselova and President Rumen Radev. In his speech, the head of state noted that Botev and the heroes have proven that there is no Bulgarian doom, but rather Bulgarian courage, Bulgarian willingness to sacrifice and Bulgarian talent.
"For me, this is not just a ceremony of gratitude, but a moral test. In front of the poet's monument today, we all ask ourselves: are we worthy of his sacrifice? What are we doing with the freedom we have been bequeathed? With the ideals? With that Bulgaria for which those worthy people whose names we read at the torch-lighting ceremony sacrificed themselves? Let us give ourselves the answer. But we must know that today some are rewriting history, others do not like the faith for which our revivalists fought, and some are hostile to everything native. Even the alphabet. There are those who are afraid of the voice of the people".
That is why the dawn is not a time for pathos. It is not a reason to be proud of other people's exploits, he added.
"When the orchestra plays the dawn, that signal from the past flows through and in front of us that should awaken every Bulgarian. To remind us that we can be more worthy, more daring, more irreconcilable, more united".
In his words, "Botev and the heroes proved that there is no Bulgarian doom!".
"There is Bulgarian courage, Bulgarian willingness to sacrifice, Bulgarian talent. Reconciliation, indifference to the national destiny today is political mediocrity. Botev is the embodiment of talent: volcanic, willing to sacrifice, inspired. Such people revived and preserved a free and sovereign Bulgaria".
And I believe, Radev said, "that all of us, their heirs, will not allow anyone to encroach and destroy their work".
"Sincere gratitude to all of you who filled the square tonight with the clear message that we must remember, because a nation without memory has no future. Congratulations to all who accepted the work and completed it in a brilliant way for the renovation of the monument, so that it can stand for future generations. To remind us of Botev and his work and so that we know that Bulgaria can and will be a strong, prosperous, modern European country, when we all follow his ideals together. A tribute and eternal memory to the heroes! Long live Bulgaria!".
Homage to Botev in Kalofer as well. With a solemn torchlight procession in his hometown this evening, the anniversary of the death of the revolutionary poet and those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria was honored.
The ceremony took place in front of the "Hristo Botev" memorial complex with the participation of servicemen from the 61st Stryamska Mechanized Brigade. The celebrations continue today with a military ritual and the removal of the flag of the Botev detachment from the museum yard.
A rally-worship will also be held in front of the hero's monument, and at exactly 12:00 p.m. the memory of all those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria will be honored with the sound of sirens and a minute of silence.