Imħabbra d-dettalji inizjali b’rabta mal-Festival Nazzjonali tan-Nar tal-Art Mekkanizzat

Taħt l-istqarrija wieħed jista’ jsib l-formula tar-regolamenti u l-applikazzjoni b’rabta mal-parteċipazzjoni għal dan il-Festival.

MT: Permezz ta’ konferenza tal-aħbarijiet il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana ħabbar id-dettalji inizjali b’rabta mal-organizzazzjoni tal-Festival Nazzjonali tan-Nar tal-Art Mekkanizzat, hekk kif din is-sena se jkun qed isir is-Sibt, 18 ta’ April, 2026, fi Pjazza San Publju (fuq il-Fosos).

Fl-ewwel kummenti tiegħi, is-Sindku Nigel Holland elenka l-fatt li l-Festival din is-sena, li huwa s-17-il edizzjoni, se jkun qed jieħu xejra ftit differenti, b’organizzazzjoni aktar diretta mill-Kunsill Lokali Floriana għalkemm wieħed irid jirringrazzja wkoll lill-Awtorita’ Maltija tat-Turiżmu għall-għajnuna kbira u l-appoġġ loġistiku li reġgħet offriet l-istess awtorità fl-organizzazzjoni tal-Festival. Huwa fakkar il-fatt li f’kull edizzjoni, il-Kunsill Lokali fittex li jagħti opportunità lill-kmamar tan-nar jesebixxu l-aqwa xogħlijiet tagħhom tan-nar tal-art mekkanizzat matul dan il-Festival Nazzjonali tant prestiġġjuż. Is-Sindku tal-Floriana Nigel Holland qal li l-Kunsill ser ikompli jinvesti ħin, enerġija u riżorsi biex dan l-avveniment jikber fil-kwalità u fir-reputazzjoni tiegħu sena wara sena. Huwa żied jgħid li l-impenn tal-Kunsill huwa li jkompli jtejjeb l-istandards organizzattivi, kemm fuq livell tekniku kif ukoll fuq livell logistiku, biex il-parteċipanti jkollhom l-aħjar kundizzjonijiet possibbli sabiex jippreżentaw xogħolhom.

Il-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul tenna fuq il-fatt li Festival bħal dan isostni l-valur storiku u kulturali tal-piroteknika f’pajjiżna, hekk kif fuq livell mekkanizzat u pirotekniku, il-Maltin huma pijunieri. Huwa aċċenna fuq l-importanza li entitajiet governattivi u kulturali jagħtu aktar sostenn lill-Kunsill, hekk kif kontinwament il-fondi allokati għall-Kunsilli qed jibqgħu l-istess, dan filwaqt li l-ispejjeż għall-organizzazzjoni ta’ attivitajiet dejjem jiżdiedu, speċjalment f’dan il-kuntest, spejjeż fuq il-materja prima li jużaw l-għaqdiet tan-Nar. Ellul għalaq billi rringrazzja lill-Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija għas-sostenn tagħhom fl-aħħar xhur, kif ukoll radd il-ħajr lill-voluntiera li jtuna din l-arti. Ellul fakkar li, minkejja li dan il-festival huwa kompetizzjoni, l-artisti Maltin tan-nar xorta waħda jingħaqdu fl-istess spirtu ta’ kreattività u se jippreżentaw xogħol mill-ogħla livell.

Fil-kummenti tagħhom, Keith Dingli u Stanley Azzopardi mill-Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija qalu li l-Festival din is-sena se jkun maqsum f’ħames kategoriji distinti li jiffokaw fuq tipi differenti ta’ raddieni mekkanizzati: il-Kategorija 1 (tal-Katina), il-Kategorija 2 (tal-Universal), il-Kategorija 3 (2D), il-Kategorija 4 (3D) u l-Kategorija 5 (tal-Funtani tal-Kulur). L-ewwel erbgħa jiffukaw fuq mekkaniżmi u disinji li jixegħlu prinċipalment bil-gassijiet u jdur permezz tal-funtani tal-porvli, filwaqt li l-ħames kategorija tagħti prominenza lill-funtani tal-kulur u l-effett viżiv tagħhom. Kull raddiena tiġi evalwata fuq kriterji ċari bħad-disinn, il-kwalità tal-prodotti pirotekniċi, il-manifattura mekkanika u l-andament tal-ħruq skont il-pjan ippreżentat lill-ġurija.

Huma qalu li l-organizzazzjoni tal-festival hija strutturata b’mod rigoruż: hemm limitu ta’ parteċipanti u sistema ta’ polza biex jiġu assenjati l-kategoriji u s-sekwenza tal-armar u l-ħruq. Il-ġurija, magħmula minn esperti barranin u Maltin, tevalwa kemm l-armar kif ukoll il-ħruq, filwaqt li l-parteċipanti jridu josservaw regoli stretti ta’ sigurtà, konformità legali u preżentazzjoni teknika. Hemm ukoll dispożizzjonijiet dwar sussidji finanzjarji, protesti u t-tħabbir tar-riżultati, biex jiġi żgurat proċess trasparenti, sigur u kompetittiv sal-aħħar.

EN: During a press conference, the Floriana Local Council announced the initial details regarding the organisation of the National Festival of Mechanised Ground Fireworks, which this year will be held on 18 April at Pjazza San Publju, on the Floriana Granaries.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Nigel Holland explained that this year’s Festival, now in its 17th edition, will take on a slightly different format, with more direct organisation by the Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana, while also expressing gratitude to the Malta Tourism Authority for the significant assistance and logistical support it has once again provided in the organisation of the Festival. He recalled that in every edition, the Local Council has sought to offer fireworks factories the opportunity to showcase their finest works in mechanised ground fireworks during this prestigious National Festival. The Mayor of Floriana, Nigel Holland, stated that the Council will continue to invest time, energy and resources so that the event grows in quality and reputation year after year. He added that the Council’s commitment is to keep strengthening organisational standards, both on a technical and logistical level, so that participants are given the best possible conditions to present their work.

Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul emphasised that a Festival of this kind sustains the historical and cultural value of pyrotechnics in our country, noting that at both mechanised and pyrotechnic levels, the Maltese are pioneers. He underlined the importance of greater support from governmental and cultural entities towards the Council, pointing out that funds allocated to Local Councils have remained unchanged, while the costs of organising activities continue to increase, particularly expenses related to the raw materials used by fireworks associations. Ellul concluded by thanking the Malta Pyrotechnic Association for their support in recent months, as well as expressing gratitude to the volunteers who keep this art alive. He also recalled that, although the Festival is a competition, Maltese fireworks artists still come together in a shared spirit of creativity and will present work of the highest standard.

In their comments, Keith Dingli and Stanley Azzopardi from the Malta Pyrotechnic Association stated that this year the Festival will be divided into five distinct categories focusing on different types of mechanised wheels: Category 1 (Chain), Category 2 (Universal), Category 3 (2D), Category 4 (3D) and Category 5 (Colour Fountains). The first four categories focus on mechanisms and designs that are primarily ignited through gas effects and rotate by means of gunpowder fountains, while the fifth category places emphasis on colour fountains and their visual impact. Each wheel will be evaluated according to clear criteria such as design, the quality of pyrotechnic products, mechanical craftsmanship and the execution of the burn according to the plan presented to the jury.

They explained that the organisation of the Festival is structured in a rigorous manner: there is a limit on participants and a ballot system to assign categories as well as the sequence of installation and ignition. The jury, composed of both foreign and Maltese experts, evaluates both the installation phase and the burn itself, while participants must observe strict rules related to safety, legal compliance and technical presentation. There are also provisions regarding financial subsidies, protests and the announcement of results to ensure a transparent, safe and competitive process throughout.