GUARDIANS OF JANJ AND ITS TRADITIONS

ŠIPOVO, JUNE 21 /SRNA/ – The Janj River and the Janj primeval forest, the Janj Islets, Vaganj Cave, Glogovac Monastery, and local folklore are among the treasures of the Janj region, the municipality of Šipovo, at the foot of Mount Vitorog, which is renowned for its traditional Janj folk costume and and increasingly recognized Janj kajmak and gužvaš cheese.

The Janj River canyon is a protected nature reserve, while the primeval forest is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Janj is also known for its traditional folk costume, worn by members of the Cultural and Artistic Society /KUD/ “Janj” from Strojice, which preserves the folklore heritage of the region. Sara Maksimović, artistic director of KUD “Janj”, told SRNA that all members of the society own their own Janj folk costumes, made by their grandmothers and mothers and also possess original pieces that can no longer be found or reproduced. “The Janj folk costume has been proclaimed one of the most beautiful traditional costumes in the world on several occasions. We have participated in a number of exhibitions and fashion showcases where we received top awards from juries. We are proud of our Janj costume and the distinctive Janj embroidery, which is recognised everywhere,” she said. She noted that only a few women in the Janj region still make traditional costumes today, but that modern pieces cannot compare to garments more than 150 years old, which were crafted entirely by hand using needle and thread. “Among these items is a special silver-minted coin that can no longer be found today,” Maksimović explained, adding that folklore activities have significantly revitalized life in Strojice. The region’s distinctive identity is also reflected in its braided bread, gužvaš cheese, and Janj kajmak. Maksimović explained that producing these traditional dairy products requires considerable effort, work, and attention. Maksimović believes that the future of the area should be based on organic food production and ethno-tourism, as it is rich in well-preserved natural beauty. She highlighted the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Strojice as the spiritual centre of the local community. From July 17 to 19, Strojice will host the sports, entertainment, and ethno-tourism event “Janj Multi-Event Competition” /Janjski Višeboj/, which, according to Maksimović, has grown into a regional event. She added that this year’s Janjski Višeboj will offer a much broader programme than in previous years, with expanded entertainment content, while the sports segment will retain traditional disciplines such as grass mowing, tug-of-war, stone throwing from the shoulder, long jump, and other competitions. As part of the cultural and artistic programme, all cultural and artistic societies from Šipovo, along with numerous guest performers, will take part.