By the initiative of the Association of Armenian Women in Georgia “Shushanik” and with the support of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia Boon Barekendan(or Original Carnival) was celebrated.This holiday precedes Great Lent and is marked with traditional “Harisa” festival.

On February 10, after the Sunday Divine Liturgy, at the “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia in the Hall of Calouste Gulbenkian festival “Harisa 2013” was held. The leader of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia,

His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan and the clergy of the church, Armenia's Consul in Georgia, Anahit Barseghyan, First Secretary of the RA Embassy in Georgia Vahagn Afyan, members of social organizations and public representatives attended the festival.

Head of the Association of Armenian Women of Georgia "Shushanik" Susanna Khachaturian opened the festival, she told of the importance of harisa in life of the Armenian people and invoked to preserve and transfer this dish to a new generation like other folk traditions. She thanked the residence of the head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia, the wife of Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Armine Manukyan, Armenia's Consul in Georgia, Anahit Barseghyan, and all individual sponsors who helped to make traditional the festival "Harisa-2013" on Boon Barekendan.

After that Fr. Manuk Zeinalayn, the priest at St. Echmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, spoke about the festival and told in detail about the nature and meaning of Great Lent, which comes after the Original Carnival.

The leader of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan blessed prepared harisa, which afterwards was given to people, and letters of gratitude were handed to women who cooked harisa. Songs, dances and high spirits for a long time prevailed in the “Hayartun” Cultural Center.