Bulgarians welcomed home singer Dara on Sunday after her surprise victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with the track Bangaranga. The win marks Bulgaria's first success in the competition. Crowds gathered at Sofia airport to celebrate the achievement.
Dara, 27, arrived at Sofia airport where fans including children greeted her with flowers, Bulgarian flags and chants of her name and the song title. "This victory means a great deal to me," she said. She told younger supporters that origin from a small country need not limit dreams, as hard work and effort can achieve great results.
The contest was held in Vienna and drew a boycott from five countries over the Gaza war. Prime Minister Rumen Radev posted congratulations on Facebook and said Bulgaria looks forward to hosting the 71st Eurovision Song Contest next year.
Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova described Dara as the country's greatest young ambassador. A finance specialist in the crowd told Reuters that the win was for the whole nation. Bulgaria has recently joined the euro zone after a period of political instability.
