NEWS

Enhancing the Inspiration of the People and the Glory of the Homeland by Inspired Creativity

The Week of Culture-2023 Starts in Ashgabat The grand opening of the Week of Culture-2023 took place in the Turkmen capital. Initiated by Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the annual large-scale forum is timed to coincide with the Day of Workers of Culture and Art and the Poetry of Magtymguly Pyragy. Its goal is to preserve, deeply study and widely popularise the spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people, to stimulate the professional growth of representatives of creative professions, to search for new talents and to improve the cultural level of the population.

23 June 2023

Culture

Meetings in Ancient Land

The events marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s membership in UNESCO and the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage are taking place in Mary on the remarkable days in June. A large festive action took place in the modern palace of the Mary Velayat Library, in the square near the building of which the Folk-Art Thematic Exhibition was arranged.

23 June 2023

Culture

International Dance and Folklore Festival Starts in Avaza

The Avaza-2023 International Dance and Folklore Festival started in the Avaza national tourism zone. The heads and representatives of international organisations, departments, scientists and specialists, cultural workers and artists from Iran, India, Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, Russia, Romania and Uzbekistan arrived to participate in the event, held by the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan on the initiative of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

16 June 2023

Culture

Wheat Harvest Starts in Turkmenistan

On June 2, the grain harvest campaign was launched in our country. During the sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers on May 26, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov blessed the start of the important agricultural campaign, wishing the farmers new labour achievements in the fields of the country. In accordance with this, the grain growers of the Ahal, Lebap and Mary velayats began to harvest, and on June 9, the farmers of the Balkan and Dashoguz velayats joined them. According to a good tradition, honorary elders blessed the harvest on the ground, offering up a prayer to the Almighty for the wellbeing and prosperity of the Motherland and the entire Turkmen people. After mowing the first wheat ears with the words “Çäjne bereket!” (“Good harvest to you!”), the elders handed over the symbolic sheaves to the combine operators.

9 June 2023

Culture

Our Country on Tourist Map

About a year ago, our newspaper wrote about the work conducted by archaeologists of the National Directorate for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments on the archaeological sites located on the “Turkmen” sections of the Great Silk Road to include some of them in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In April 2022, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov issued the Resolution approving the State Programme for the preservation, protection, study and attraction of tourists to national historical and cultural heritage sites for 2022–2028. These two projects complement each other perfectly. What have scientists done in recent years? The Head of the National Directorate for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments, Doctor of Architecture Muhammed MAMEDOV answered this question. “I will start with the Ahal velayat, with the ancient monument Paryz-depe. The remains of Turkmen manor houses dating back to the 18th-19th centuries have been preserved at the foot of the site of the ancient settlement of Paryz-depe. One of these manor houses that represents a rectangular courtyard enclosed by the adobe walls almost 2 metres thick with round towers at the corners is an object of study and partial restoration under the State Programme. The specialists of our Directorate continued conducting the topogra

9 June 2023

Culture

Collection of Magtymguly’s Manuscripts Included in the International Memory of the World Register

Good news came from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which is a specialised body of the United Nations. The 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Board was held at the headquarters of this structure in Paris from May 10 to 24, during which it was unanimously decided to include the collection of manuscripts of the Turkmen philosopher and poet Magtymguly Pyragy in the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

2 June 2023

Culture

Pattern Embroidered for Happiness

National embroidery, being a part of the decorative and applied arts of the Turkmen people, which has its roots in ancient times, is an original and peculiar phenomenon. Like the famous Turkmen carpets, it has not only been preserved in its original form, but has also been developed in the works of modern skilled needlewomen. Of course, handmade embroidery has a certain intrinsic value, the presence of its creator, her individuality and spirituality are always felt in it. It contains a kind of message in which the mood, thoughts and feelings of the craftswoman are reflected. The articles embroidered by Turkmen needlewomen can be compared with fine arts, which are part of visual communication, a reflection of reality, an expression of something meaningful and exciting. The ethnic history, the mystical sacredness of the sign-symbolic letter, addressed, ultimately, not only to the contemporaries, but also to future generations, is reflected in the Turkmen national embroidery. Our talented grandmothers and great-grandmothers were engaged in needlework, weaving carpets and rugs, making felt mats, knitting and weaving various amulets – “alaja”, “jähek”, “aldymgaç”. Their golden hands did not know fatigue, their creativity is worthy of surprise, and their work is admirable! Putting a piece of their soul into every item, they have been creating unique products for centu

19 May 2023

Culture

Restorer is a Vocation

From time immemorial, the Turkmen land has been known as one of the centres of scientific knowledge and culture, and therefore, the heritage that has survived to this day arouses fascination with its uniqueness and large scale. Today, the interest in the study of manuscripts created and stored in Turkmenistan is growing in many countries of the world, which causes special pride. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov notes, “It is known that the ultimate task set before the educational sector is to bring up the well-educated younger generation with a broad outlook and devoted to the Motherland, the people and the great values of their ancestors. Through education, we are therefore transforming our cultural and spiritual life, comprehensively strengthening the position of our independent state in the world and building our great future with a solid foundation… on the interests of people, national and universal values and on humane traditions.” The opening of the Faculty of Reconstruction and Restoration of the National Heritage at the State Institute of Culture was a significant event, especially for us, professional restorers, because it is very important to bring up worthy successors of masters of their craft, so that the ancient writings continue to live in the future.

19 May 2023

Culture

Anau – the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2024

The conference entitled “Ancient Anau – the Cultural Centre of the Turkic World” was held at the Ak Bugday National Museum of Turkmenistan in the city of Anau. It was devoted to the decision of the 39th meeting of the Permanent Council of TURKSOY, held in Bursa (Turkey) on November 5 last year, which declares the city of Anau the cultural centre of the Turkic world in 2024. It is also symbolic that at the same meeting 2024 was declared the year of the great poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy. The Director of the Museum Gozel Ovlyakuliyeva notes that the announcement of the city of Anau as the cultural centre of the Turkic world caused a great positive resonance in the public life of the country. In our state, great work is being done to preserve for future generations the historical, cultural and natural monuments that have become an integral part of the common human heritage. The museums of the country have collected and have carefully stored exhibits that testify to the rich history of the Turkmen people. The museum staff plans to hold a number of events to mark this significant event.

28 April 2023

Culture

Oraza Bayramy – a Bright Holiday of High Spirituality

Today is the Oraza holiday that crowns the 30-day fast is devoted to the physical and spiritual purification of a person. On this day, believers pray to the Almighty for success in the activity of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov aimed at achieving global progress, prosperity and a happy life of our people and all humankind and thank the Almighty for Oraza Bayramy – the bright holiday of breaking the fast that has come to the ancient Turkmen land like in previous years to the homes and hearts of the people of Turkmenistan and all the Muslims of the world. The Decree of the President of Turkmenistan “On the Celebration of Oraza Bayramy” notes that this was done to further strengthen the unity, harmony and cohesion of the people in the period of the Revival of the New Era of the Powerful State, respect for centuries-old traditions and customs and preserve our spiritual wealth. In the history of the Turkmen people, the ritual of celebrating Oraza Bayramy has been preserved at all times as a sacred symbol of purification, goodness and peace. Breaking the fast, the Messenger of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad Aleihissalam, said, “God, for Your sake I kept the fast. I broke my fast with Your food; my thirst disappeared, and my veins were filled with moisture; and

21 April 2023

Culture