The traditional celebration known as “Darka e Lamës” (The Harvest Feast) was held tonight under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Justina Shiroka Pula.
Addressing those present, President Shiroka Pula stated that “Darka e Lamës” is a tradition that connects the land to the individual, labour to gratitude, and the home to the guest.
She further said that, in Albanian tradition, the conclusion of the harvest and the gathering of the season’s bounty marked a significant moment; after months of toil in the fields, families and neighbours would gather around a shared table to express gratitude for the fruits of their labour.
President Shiroka Pula emphasized that this tradition serves as a reminder that the harvest is not merely the product of the land and the farmer’s hard work—it also embodies solidarity among people and the open-hearted nature of the home.
According to her, in Albanian tradition, a host’s home is also the home of the guest. Therefore, she added, a table set for a meal is an expression of hospitality, while bread shared with others signifies respect and trust toward one’s fellow human being—values that “Darka e Lamës” preserves to this day. President Shiroka Pula stated that in 2002, President Ibrahim Rugova elevated this tradition to an institutional level, adding that this celebration serves as a symbol of gratitude toward the land of Kosovo and its people.
In conclusion, President Shiroka Pula urged that we keep the “Darka e Lamës” alive, along with the values it represents: gratitude, solidarity, hospitality, and respect for the labour of our people.
