Kosovo’s traditional “Darka e Lamës” celebration was held under the patronage of President Justina Shiroka Pula, highlighting the values of gratitude for the harvest, solidarity, hospitality and respect for hard work.
Addressing attendees, Shiroka Pula said the tradition connects the land with people, labor with gratitude, and the home with guests.
“Darka e Lamës is a tradition that connects the land with people, work with gratitude, and the home with the guest,” she said.
The president emphasized that, in Albanian tradition, the end of the harvest and the gathering of agricultural produce marked a special occasion when families and neighbors came together around a shared table to express appreciation for the fruits of their labor.
She noted that prosperity and abundance are not merely the result of fertile land and farmers’ efforts, but also reflect solidarity among people.
“Abundance is not only the fruit of the land and the farmer’s hard work; it is also an expression of solidarity among people and the open-hearted hospitality of a home,” Shiroka Pula said.
She also highlighted the importance of hospitality in Albanian culture, recalling the traditional belief that a host’s home is also the guest’s home, and that sharing food is an expression of respect and trust.
Shiroka Pula recalled that former President Ibrahim Rugova elevated the tradition to an institutional level in 2002, turning it into a symbol of gratitude for Kosovo’s land and its people.
Concluding her remarks, the president called for the tradition to be preserved and passed on to future generations.
“Let us keep Darka e Lamës alive, along with the values it represents: gratitude, solidarity, hospitality and respect for the work of our people,” she said.
