The Turkmen carpet company “El Darak,” in partnership with the National Museum of the Turkmen Carpet, has created a unique handmade carpet inspired by the fairy tales of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. The project was carried out as a symbol of friendship between Turkmenistan and Russia.

On the carpet, measuring 2 by 1.5 meters, skilled artisans depicted Lukomorye, The Golden Cockerel, characters from “The Tale of Tsar Saltan,” and other recognizable images from the works of the great Russian poet.

“This carpet was created based on the fairy tales of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, and it brings us great joy. It is not merely an object of decorative and applied art, but also a kind of act of cultural diplomacy and an expression of deep respect for Russian culture and its enduring values. The project gains special significance from the fact that it was woven by Turkmen craftswomen. For us, it is an example of how culture unites peoples. The Russian literary tradition and the centuries-old art of Turkmen carpet weaving have come together in a single work, creating a space for mutual cultural dialogue,” said Ogulgerek Durdyeva, founder of “El Darak,” in an interview with journalists.

The company “El Darak” specializes in the production of handmade carpets and works jointly with the National Museum of the Turkmen Carpet to revive and preserve ancient weaving techniques.

The development of this field receives special attention in the country. As emphasized by the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, carpet weaving represents a rich layer of Turkmen spiritual culture and a national brand recognized throughout the world.

It is worth noting that the Turkmen Carpet Day has held official state holiday status since 1992. Ashgabat is home to the National Museum of the Turkmen Carpet, which houses around 2,000 rare exhibits, and also serves as the headquarters of the World Association of Connoisseurs of Turkmen Carpet Weaving. In December 2019, the traditional art of Turkmen carpet weaving was inscribed on UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.