The 10th Anniversary Vardavar Festival Held in Garni and Geghard

Initiated by the Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia (FYCA) and organized with the support of the Kotayk Regional Administration and the Garni Municipality, the 10th anniversary Vardavar Festival celebrated one of Armenia’s most symbolic and culturally rich holidays.

The festival’s goal is to present the unique traditions of Vardavar in an authentic and engaging way, promoting Armenia’s national cultural heritage both within the country and internationally.

Bringing together thousands of guests from Armenia and abroad, the prestigious festival takes place at two iconic cultural landmarks—Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery—which are part of the global treasury of tangible cultural heritage.

The festivities began at Garni Temple with a reenactment of ancient pagan rituals, introducing the meaning and history of Vardavar and traditional ceremonies dedicated to the Armenian goddess Astghik. Simultaneously, at Geghard Monastery, a Divine Liturgy was held in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration, during which the celebrant sprinkled holy water on the faithful gathered in the courtyard, followed by a special youth blessing ceremony.

In his opening speech, Atom Mkhitaryan, President of FYCA and Head of the Vardavar Festival, emphasized that the festival aims to elevate Vardavar—rich in both cultural and religious layers—into an international celebration. Congratulatory messages were received from partner organizations in France, the United States, Russia, Iraq, Iran, and other countries.

“Vardavar is one of those rare holidays that has both Christian and national-pagan roots. It is celebrated in different ways across Armenia’s regions. Our aim is to help people understand that Vardavar is more than just the fun water-splashing tradition—it carries deep cultural significance and includes many fascinating customs,”said Mkhitaryan, adding that the festival's program was developed in collaboration with ethnographers to research and revive forgotten pre-Christian traditions.

Mari Hovakimyan, Cultural Coordinator of the Kotayk Regional Administration, welcomed the event and highlighted the importance of organizing a national and culturally rooted festival like Vardavar in the region. She also introduced the diverse groups representing various communities of the Kotayk region, all of whom prepared unique performances to showcase the essence of the holiday.

The festival officially opened with the performance "From the Sky to the Sea" by the Kasakh School of Arts.The Andok Traditional Song and Dance Group from Charentsavan presented traditional dances such as Yarkhushta, Kertsi, and Karno Kochari.The "Tsilq" National Ensemble from Byureghavan performed a suite of national songs and dances, including “Mshu Sarer Mshush e,” “Gyovnd, Leylim Le,” “Hanignar,” and “Papuri.”The Hajin Dance Ensemble performed the piece “Armenia.”Gayane Avdalyan and guitarist Gevorg Ghazaryan delivered moving renditions of Khachatur Avetisyan’s "Anush Hovik" and Gusan Ashot’s "Lusni Shoghov".

For the first time, the festival welcomed participation from Armenia’s national minorities: the Assyrian "Atur" Song and Dance Ensemble from the Arzni community performed the traditional "Peda" warrior dance.

The closing of the festival featured a reenactment of the "Khndumi" ritual performed by the Samvel Muradyan Sports and Cultural Center of Meghradzor and the Byureghavan Cultural Center.

Throughout the grounds of Garni Temple, traditional Armenian games were presented with the participation of young people. The "Shogher" Puppet Theater from Charentsavan Municipal Library staged a puppet performance, and various workshops and masterclasses were organized.

According to Astghik Avetisyan, the festival’s coordinator and President of the Armenian PR Association, the Vardavar Festival not only promotes Armenian cultural heritage and strengthens national-spiritual values among youth but also significantly enhances Armenia’s tourism appeal and fosters stronger Armenia-Diaspora relations.