Highlander Week celebrated in northern towns of Shovi, Mestia

Initiated by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Government, Highlander Week aims to promote the development of mountain localities and resorts. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Locals and visitors took part in the Mestia celebrations to enjoy a range of activities planned as part of the festival. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to enjoy popular musical band and singer performances, sports activities and educational tours, as well as exhibitions, sales of local entrepreneurs and ethnographic education corners. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

The festival space was divided into different zones to enable the visitors to navigate and find their preferred activity. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Arts and crafts were exhibited and sold on the festival grounds. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

A Svan man wearing a traditional Svan hat is sitting on a large, wooden stool specially designed for the village elder - a Makhvshi - who, according to the Svan traditions, leads the locality. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Svan hats are made of felt and are usually grey with bleach seams. The hats are warm in winter and protect from the cold in winter and the sun in summer. Visitors of the festival could buy locally-made Svan hats. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

A woman is baking Kubdari, a spiced meat pie made with small bite-sized chunks of beef or pork (or both). It is traditionally baked on the top of a wood-burning stove. Next to Kubdari, there is Chvishtari, a cornbread with cheese, being fried in a pan. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Young women gathered flowers and spun wreaths at the festival. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Popular musical artists and bands, including Gordela, Nodariko Khutsishvili Band, Salio and Ranina took to the stage and entertained visitors of the festival. Photo: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Meanwhile in Shovi, visitors joined a crafts class organised as part of the festival. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Girls posing with the background of an arch that reads “Racha - My Love”. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Racha is famous for its Rachuli Lobio (beans) dish, made with tender red beans with local ham in a clay pot. As a traditional dish, Rachuli Lobio was displayed at the festival and visitors were offered to taste it. Mushrooms cooked on a Ketsi - a traditional Georgian stone or clay cooking pan - are also seen in the photograph. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

A boy caresses a horse. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Paintings by artists were displayed at the festival. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Tasting of local dishes was held on the spot. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

One of the zones of the festival in Shovi, arranged with flowers. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook

Highlander Week will be held annually in the coming years. Photo: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region Administration/Facebook