Georgia’s Independence Day celebrated with grand gala concert involving 1,000 performers from across country

Georgia’s Independence Day celebrations on Sunday featured a grand gala concert organised by the Ministry of Culture and supported by the Government to “showcase the rich folklore of the nation” with about 1,000 performers of folk ensembles from across the country, the Ministry said.

The concert opened with a performance of the national anthem by the Tbilisi Women's Choir and featured Erisioni, Rustavi, Chakrulo, Shilda, Kutaisi State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble, Basiani, Nartebi, Abkhazeti, Sagalobeli and Arsiani. 

The event concluded with a polyphonic performance by the choir of the folk ensemble Sagalobeli of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Christian Church and the ensemble Mdzlevari.

Independence Day events were organised in 18 cities across Georgia and involved recruits of the Georgian Defence Forces taking the oath on Freedom Square in Tbilisi, followed by events and activities hosted on Rustaveli Avenue in the capital city. 

The historic 1918 moment of declaration of Georgia’s independence was commemorated at 5:10 pm, with the national anthem performed by 300 children, including students from Georgian communities abroad.

This year's Independence Day celebrations were marked for the first time since the country was granted the European Union membership candidate status, with the occasion marked with a celebration at the Leuville Estate near Paris, the venue of residence of members the Georgian Government in exile following the Soviet invasion and occupation of the First Democratic Republic in 1921.