Today, Turkmenistan celebrated the National Spring Holiday – International Novruz Day on a grand scale. The main celebrations unfolded at the traditional site “Nowruz ýaýlasy” in the Ak Bugday etrap of the Akhal velayat.
Nowruz, included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is not just a meeting of spring and a symbol of the triumph of awakening nature. This is a holiday of peace, good neighborliness and friendship, mutual understanding between people.
Celebrations filled with national color to commemorate Novruz, which is rightfully considered an integral part of the spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people, personify the well-being, sustainable development of the Motherland, its desire for peace and progress.
In the Address of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the people of the country on the occasion of the holiday, its consolidating significance is emphasized: “Novruz is associated with the renewal of life, humanism, unity, being such for the whole world. The traditions associated with it are designed to strengthen relations between members of the international community based on the principles of peace, friendship, fraternity and goodwill.”
In the emerald necklace, the Novruz Valley greets guests, which has noticeably changed in recent years thanks to the planting campaigns carried out here, as well as in other parts of the country. Recall that on the eve of the holiday, a spring campaign was held in Turkmenistan for planting tree seedlings. So, in the Epoch of the Revival of a new era of powerful state, a new reality is being created - the country, where one of the greatest deserts of the world is located, turns into a land of green oases, acting as life-giving symbols of renewal and development.
Here, on the occasion of the holiday, a large Turkmen village was built with yurts, trestle beds, farmsteads with domestic animals, smoking cauldrons, as well as an oriental bazaar with its bright trading tents, lively barkers, creative teams and artists who amuse the people.
At the place of celebration, a high swing entwined with flower garlands is installed - an indispensable attribute of Novruz. To make a kind of flight on them is considered a spiritually cleansing ritual, allowing you to start the next year with new strength, a pure heart and bright thoughts.
Bright costumes, songs that sound everywhere, which have come to us from time immemorial, cheer up, reflect the essence of this ancient celebration in honor of the awakening of nature and the renewal of life.
The spacious meadow has become a huge stage for this festival, to which members of the Government, leaders and representatives of the Mejlis, various ministries and departments, public organizations, diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan and international organizations, and the media are invited. Turkmen people came here from all corners of our Motherland.
Among the foreign guests are delegates of the International Conference “Main Directions and Potential of Tourism Development in Turkmenistan” that opened in the capital the day before. For them, this is a unique opportunity to see in one place the whole panorama of original traditions at once - from labor to creative and culinary ones, to plunge into the indescribable atmosphere of the Turkmen Toy.
Also, the guests of the holiday were international observers who came to our country to monitor the upcoming elections of deputies of the Mejlis, members of the velayat, city and etrap halk maslahaty and Gengeshes.
The girls present traditional bread and salt, toi-pishme, and sweets to the audience, inviting everyone to take part in the many-voiced bright holiday.
In the performance called “Nowruz geldi bu bagtyýar Diýara”, the artists of the Main Academic Drama Theater named after Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great depicted a noble assembly of scientists - astronomers, mathematicians, wise philosophers, reflecting on the structure of the universe and sharing discoveries and new knowledge with each other. The history of archaeological research on the ancient Turkmen land was also presented in a theatrical form.
In the improvised village, the traditional way of life of the Turkmens with its colorful rituals was recreated in detail, which were skillfully played by the creative teams of the capital and velayats of the country in their performances, and the children were the first to greet the guests, reciting poems dedicated to the spring holiday.
The ethnographic mini-performances reflect the customs associated with the celebration of Nowruz, the preparation of appropriate dishes, national games, and crafts.
The shining pinnacle of the vast world of folk crafts is the art of Turkmen needlework. The participants of the festival became spectators of a magnificent performance, the plot of which was dedicated to the ceremony of preparing a wedding dowry, in which women and girls help the bride. It is impossible not to admire the work of skilled embroiderers, the creation of ornaments for women's clothing, the apotheosis of the decorativeness of which is considered a wedding cape - kurte. The ceremony of the Turkmen wedding itself was not left without attention, which, thanks to the artists, was attended by guests.
The process of making a Turkmen carpet, the art of which is included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, was presented in a creative form. There was also an exhibition of textiles and products of arts and crafts. One of the expositions is devoted to silk, and the process of making keteni cloth was also demonstrated.
The talent and diligence of the Turkmen, handicraft traditions handed down from generation to generation, are narrated by the magnificent jewelry of the zergers. Museum exhibits were placed under the tents - national musical instruments, samples of clothing, tools. There are also models that tell about the nature and fauna of different parts of the Fatherland.
Separate artistic compositions reflect the traditions of mentoring. Thus, in a mini-performance, the artists of the Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theater recreated the image of the great Turkmen poet and talked about one of the episodes of his life. This creative dedication made it possible once again to make sure that the ancient traditions today receive a new reading, and our heritage maintains a lively connection with the modern generation.
The ancient melodies performed by the consolidated group of bakhshi from the regions of the country became a wonderful background for the impromptu action.
The attention of the guests was also attracted by the proud “ships of the desert” - camels and true friends of the Turkmen - Alabai, whose upbringing is an integral part of the national culture.
An agricultural exposition was also deployed in the exhibition part of the town, presenting the rich Turkmen traditions of agriculture and various products of domestic producers. In addition, a field camp was recreated, where methods for irrigating gardens and fields were demonstrated, in particular, the operation of a large spinning wheel - chigir. This is an ancient water-lifting device with scoops fixed on it, thanks to which in the old days the issues of irrigating fields, orchards, vineyards and melons were solved.
Indispensable participants in all festive celebrations in our country are skillful riders on beautiful Akhal-Teke horses. A real gift for the audience was the bright performance of the group of national equestrian games “Galkynyş” - the winner of many international festivals.
Turkmen dzhigits on magnificent horses demonstrated their skills, as well as the beauty and grace of "heavenly" horses to the music.
The youth, meanwhile, competed in various folk games and amusements. Spectacular bouts of palvan wrestlers, as well as a demonstration of dexterity on a tightrope, took place to the approving exclamations of the fans.
Along with this, a real culinary vernissage spread on the Nowruz ýaýlasy site, striking with the abundance of dastarkhan with national cuisine dishes prepared right there by the best chefs, masters of culinary art who offered them to guests. Here you can see how the ritual dish of the seed is prepared.
The feeling of a fascinating excursion into ancient times was reinforced by everyday scenes from rural life. Someone is making tamdyr, someone is already baking cakes, treating everyone with hot churek.
All kinds of bakery products are also presented here, fresh vegetables and fruits towered in bright pyramids on special platforms.
The art vernissage is dedicated to the beauty of nature, its gifts and people living in harmony with it, including the works of young successors of the creative traditions of the Turkmen people.
Masters of arts of the country presented their gifts to the participants of the festival. The concert program included folk songs and compositions by contemporary authors dedicated to spring, Novruz, the creative energy of the Epoch of the Revival of the new era of powerful state, which gives success to all the noble undertakings of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
Turkmenistan joyfully and cheerfully welcomed the bright holiday of Novruz. The celebrations taking place these spring days throughout the country illuminate our ancient land with the light and warmth of spiritual values, the wisdom of centuries, fill it with music and songs, the beauty of ancient rituals, give many wonderful emotions and impressions.
