Kutaisoba: Georgia’s western Kutaisi celebrates city day with camomiles

Georgia’s western city of Kutaisi today is celebrating the city day, an annual festival - Gviriloba, which comes from the Georgian word for camomile.

The traditional public holiday stems from the 20th century when schoolgirls from Kutaisi used to sell camomiles for charity in the boulevard and donated the raised money to help those with tuberculosis.

Photo via Kutaisi City Hall

This year’s celebration began at the 11th-century Bagrati Cathedral, after which representatives of the local Government decorated the monument of three honourable citizens of Kutaisi with camomiles.

Official delegations of befriended cities of Kutaisi, including Poznan, Valka, Kharkiv, Nanchang and Ungheni, as well as Gabrovo, Muratpaşa, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Szombathely, visited the city during the festivities and together with Kutaisi Mayor Ioseb Khakhaleishvili, regional Governor Zviad Shalamberidze, majoritarian member of the Parliament Zaza Lominadze and City Council chair Irakli Shengelia visited Kutaisi Botanical Garden and planted trees.

Photo via Kutaisi City Hall

The Festival hosts flea markets, exhibitions, forums, children’s and sports activities, as well as other cultural events and will end with a gala concert, where the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra will perform Georgian movie soundtracks.

Photo via Kutaisi City Hall

Honorary citizens of Kutaisi city will also be chosen and the tournament trophy of the 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship will be presented at the end of the festival.