Monument to the United Nations, the citizens of Sarajevo are thankful

That’s the most ironic monument which I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately humanitarian aid sometimes is just a way of "cleaning" other countries. Bosnian received medicals and food which passed their expiry date.

According to the people, even dogs and cats didn’t want to eat that canned meet but people had to. Probably this is an explanation of dramatic increase of stomach and colorectal cancer in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war…

So, that’s the way for Bosnian people to say "thanks" to the United Nations…

 

Stećci

Stećci are medieval tombstones found on the territory of present Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia. They appeared in the 11^th century, reached their peak in 14^th and 15^th century and disappeared during the Ottoman occupation.

According to United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, there is about 60 000 monuments located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4 400 in Croatia, 3 500 in Montenegro and 4 100 in Serbia. They are on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009.

Stećci exist in two main groups: recumbent and upright stone monoliths. They are beautifully decorated. The most popular motifs are spirals, arcades, rosettes, vine leaves and grapes, suns, moons, a hunting scenes, birds, snakes, deers, wheel dancing, individual human figures, and the most famous the imagine of the man with his right hand raised. 

Kurban Bajram, Feast of the Sacrifice

Today, Sarajevo is like a ghost city, everything is closed and there is almost no people on the streets. All because of Kurban Bajram celebrated by Muslims to honour the willingness of the prophet Ibrahims to sacrifice his son for a God. 

According to the tradition, people should sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually a cow, but it can be also goat or sheep). The meet from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: one third is kept by family, one third is given to neighbors and friends, and the last part is given to the poor and in need. This symbolic movement should make relations between people stronger and make them free from stinginess and egoism. 

This tradition is still alive. Walking on the streets, I found several information about possibility of buying sacrificed meet. Somehow I feel very sad…  According to Wikipedia  “This tradition accounts for more than 100 million slaughtering of animals in only 2 days of Eid. In Pakistan alone nearly 10 million animals are slaughtered on Eid days costing over US$ 3 billion.”

                                                BAJRAM ŠERIF MUBAREK OLSUN