(559) 226-4176
Forty Days of Mousa Dagh Commemorative Association USA Inc, known as Mousa Ler Fresno, is a non-profit organization, operating for over 40 years commemorating the 40 days of Mousa Dagh. Along with the yearly commemoration during Labor Day weekend, Mousa Ler Fresno financially supports Mousa Ler community around the world. The heroic struggle and victory of the Forty Days of Mousa D
agh will be
celebrated Labor Day weekend, marking the remembrance for the
people from the small Armenian villages, once located in the Cilician region, now
in Turkey. During the years of the Armenian genocide, the people of Mousa Dagh were
forced by the Turks to change their ways and religion. The townspeople
courageously refused to fall into the hands of the Turks and climbed atop their
mountain called Mousa Ler. They fought the Turkish soldiers off for 40 long days and were miraculously saved
by a French ship passing by on the Mediterranean Sea. Since the 1980s, the Mousa Dagh Commemoration Committee in Fresno has
put together a weekend memorial. The tradition began with just a few families
trying to keep their heritage alive and now attracts around 800 people a year. The festivities begin with a family picnic on Saturday at
the Fresno Police Association’s Training Grounds (next to Camp Pashayan at 7633
N. to midnight. The cooking of the Herisa, a lamb and
whole wheat stew, begins. Traditional music is played and performed and guests dance. Sunday begins with a church service followed by speakers. Following the service is the blessing and serving of the Herisa accompanied by a Kef~time, music and dancing. Along with the festivities, our youth program meet multiple times throughout the year to raise funds for schools and those in need.
