Bulgarians dressed in traditional costumes are seen through haze of fire in village of Bulgari, southeast from capital Sofia. Bulgarians dressed in traditional costumes are seen through the haze of a fire in the small village of Bulgari, about 500 km (311 miles) southeast from the capital Sofia, June 3, 2005. Historians say that fire-dancing, in which performers dance barefoot on smouldering embers, is associated with the cult of the sun and its analogue on earth, fire. The ritual begins in the morning, when dancers form a procession, carrying icons and praying for health, prosperity and rich harvest. The fire is being lit in the afternoon by the main fire dancer, called Nestinar. The dancing itself is performed after sunset to the accompaniment of a drum and a bagpipe. Picture taken June 3. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov