Vardaton (holiday of roses) dedicated to Armenian poet and musician Sayat-Nova was celebrated in Tbilisi. Famed writer Hovhannes Tumanyan was the first to celebrate the holiday in 1914.

The event was attended by Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili who congratulated the local Armenian community on the holiday.

Ivanishvili described Vardaton as a common holiday for both Georgians and Armenians, deeming Sayat-Nova as a symbol of Gerogian-Armenian friendship.

“Sayat-Nova was a famous Armenian poet who was killed in the monastery by the invading army of Mohammad Khan Qajar. He was a great humanist. Sayat-Nova is equally dear to both Armenian and Georgian people,” Ivanishvili said.