As 2026 approached, social media remembered Baba Vanga (Grandma Vanga), Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova (1911–1996), the late Bulgarian blind mystic and healer, often referred to as the 'Nostradamus of the Balkans' for her prophecies.
The Alpine bar fire in Switzerland on New Year’s Eve heightened interest in Baba Vanga’s predictions. Her prophecies for 2026 include protracted conflicts in Europe and Asia, political fragmentation in Europe, humanity’s encounter with extraterrestrial life, automation replacing large parts of the workforce, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and fires, and a Russian leader emerging as a major player on the world stage.
Baba Vanga is believed to have predicted the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the September 11 attacks, the rise of ISIS, the Middle East conflict, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the first Black President in the USA, the Ukraine conflict, a cure for cancer, the end of hunger, and human longevity of 200+ years. The internet community also ascribes to her predictions of a population decline in Europe, the acceleration of polar ice cap melt, and an artificial sun illuminating part of the Earth.
On a New Year’s travel flight, a fellow passenger, learning that I live in Sofia, asked me whether I knew Baba Vanga. I told him that a month earlier, I had visited her memorial complex in Rupite, a small village in southwestern Bulgaria near the border with Greece and North Macedonia. It is modest but well-maintained, ensconced in the hills.
Baba Vanga was born in Strumica, then part of the Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), and at the age of 12, she lost her sight after being caught in a severe storm. After that, she began claiming to have visions and insights. Over the years, people from across Bulgaria and neighbouring countries visited her for advice on health, personal issues, and future events. In her later life, she lived in the village of Rupite, where she continued to meet visitors until she died in 1996.
Throughout human history, mystics and healers have contributed to society’s psychological, social, and cultural systems. Shamans, Yogis, hermits, Sufis, and monks have filled the void in human imagination regarding suffering, loss, dreams, death, and destiny.
Human existence is a blend of science and rationality, and of stories, symbols, rituals, and beliefs. Healers address not only trauma and stress but also humanity’s emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. They help communities prepare for and cope with fear, loss, and future uncertainty; therefore, mystics like Baba Vanga will continue to evoke interest for generations to come.
(Arun Sahu is the Ambassador of India to Bulgaria & North Macedonia)
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.