Paper Short Abstract:

The presentation will explore the relationship between Roma pilgrims and the visual aspects of the Csatka Pilgrimage in Hungary, the largest Roma pilgrimage in Central and Eastern Europe. It will also examine the colonial specificities present in media representations of the pilgrimage.

Paper Abstract:

The largest "Roma pilgrimage" in CE-Europe is organized every September in the small Hungarian village of Csatka. Around 30000 pilgrims arrive, of whom roughly 90% are Roma. The presence of the Roma has always provoked controversy among the authorities, the police, church people, the locals, and non-Roma pilgrims. One of the reasons for the disputes is that the vernacular religiosity and the behaviour of the Roma is considered “unusual” by members of the majority society. Roma have always dressed in their own festive costumes, spending money at the vendors on kitsch, bringing huge bouquets of flowers, enormous candles, and even making dozens of dresses for the Virgin Mary statue. All this is accompanied by ambiguity among the non-Roma pilgrims. The conflict between Roma and non-Roma is further intensified by the Roma “turbofolk” music party in the meadow near the church.

The ethnic pilgrimage is an excellent opportunity to analyze 1) contemporary Roma folk art, 2) how Roma pilgrims use and make images to represent themselves in social media during pilgrimage, 3) how Roma pilgrims connect and use religious images, including religious kitsch purchased from the vendors, and 4) the visual representation of the pilgrimage in various media.

In addition, the visual representation of the pilgrimage reveals strong colonisation strategies and mentality on the part of non-Roma pilgrims, the Catholic Church and clergy, and in media representations.