The 28th Panhellenic Meeting of Sarakatsani was held in the town of Pertouli, Trikala prefecture on Sunday, where dance troupes from Sarakatsani associations in Greece, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) convened.

The government was represented by Rural Development and Foods Minister Alexandros Kontos.

This year's meeting was dedicated to "Klephtouria" - the name given to the outlawed bands of resistance fighters during the time of the Ottoman Turks - and also featured representations of the traditional nomadic life of the Sarakatsani.

The Sarakatsani were historically a tribe of Greek herders based mainly around Mount Pindos that had a highly nomadic existence, moving freely from pasture to pasture in areas throughout northwestern Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and FYROM.

Most are based in Greece but, with the closing of the borders during the Cold War, several had been settled in other countries, such as Bulgaria.

This year's festivities included sports, the elders' dance, traditional Sarakatsani dances and then a dance for officials and the general public.