NEWS

Turkmen riders invited to international circus festival in Monte Carlo

«7/24. tm», № 06 (141), 06.02.2023 The Turkmen equestrian sport group Galkynysh (Revival) received an official invitation to perform at the 47th International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, which will be held in January 2025.

6 February 2023

Culture

From the Editorial Staff

The visit of the delegation, involved in the implementation of the Programme of the Fund of Ambassadors for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, to the Turkmen State Institute of Culture became part of a week-long mission of the honorary guests of our country. Here is what our newspaper was told at the US Embassy in Turkmenistan:

3 February 2023

Culture

Cultural Heritage: Past and Present

Successfully implementing the open-doors policy, Turkmenistan is expanding its international cooperation in various areas of state development with every passing day. One of the vectors of mutually interested partnership with the world community is aimed at preserving historically important cultural monuments and objects that our country is so rich in. A significant contributor to this work is the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), founded in 2001 by the US Congress to preserve monuments and sites and other forms of traditional cultural expression in developing countries around the world.

3 February 2023

Culture

A Mas­ter­piece of Gol­den Fleece of Sa­ra­ja sheep

From time immemorial Turkmen carpets and rugs have been considered an age-old attribute of weddings and other family celebrations. The birth of a child and a new carpet were joyful events. According to the tradition, the girl was laid on a new carpet, hoping that she would become a craftswoman in the future. The breadwinner in the family was a man, but the keepers of the family hearth did not sit idly. The ancestors said, “Cattle will bring prosperity to a dzhigit, and a carpet to a girl”. So it was. Men were engaged in cattle breeding, while women were engaged in cooking and carpet weaving, which they taught their daughters from childhood.

27 January 2023

Culture

Labelled “Made in Turkmenistan”

Since 2016, the plant of Döwlet Gurluşyk Economic Society has been producing basalt fibre in the Yashlyk village, Ak Bugday etrap, Ahal velayat. At the initial stage, the high quality of domestic raw materials – basalt porphyrites from the Ufra deposit, located in the Balkan velayat, made it possible to produce basalt continuous fibre using the Russian technology and to launch the production of window sashes, road mesh, fittings and others. This material is also used in the oil and gas industry to insulate oil pipelines and to produce pipe products. Subsequently, the department that produces mineral wool – high-temperature thermal insulation material, which made it possible to partially substitute the imported materials, was established. The plant annually produces 100,000 square metres of the finished products – the canvas 1 metre wide and 5 cm thick. The manufacturing process makes it possible to transform volcanic rock into ultra-thin cotton wool by melting in a gas furnace at a temperature of 1,300-1,400 degrees. The Russia-made furnace is capable of heating up to a temperature of 1,700 °C. The current gas and electricity prices in Turkmenistan cause much lower production costs of mineral fibre than world prices, which ensures the competitiveness of the product. Construction is another area of the activities of the Döwlet Gurluşyk Economic Society – it built a

20 January 2023

Culture

Symbol of Unity, Friendship and Solidarity of the Turkmen People

In our country, carpets are regarded not only as a result of painstaking work, but almost as a sacred object. It is for reason that the five main ornaments “Ahalteke”, “Salyr”, “Ärsary”, “Çowdur” and “Ýomut” are depicted on the State Flag and the National Emblem of Turkmenistan, together symbolising the unity and cohesion of the people and, at the same time, the diversity of carpet styles and schools of the regions. Expressing the unity of the velayats, five patterns are depicted side by side on the same line. But all of them, despite the difference, have a common artistic code, a common semantic load and style matching techniques – all that ultimately makes the Turkmen carpet recognisable and allows us to say: this miracle is made by Turkmen masters. Preserving and continuing this heritage at the present time is a task of national importance. In our time, when the glory of the Turkmen carpet, which has become part of the historical and cultural heritage, resounds with special force, modern masters study the experience of craftswomen of the past, elements of carpet patterns and techniques. Thanks to this, the art of carpet weaving continues and the experience of previous generations is embedded in each new carpet. Among modern Turkmen carpets, the largest handmade carpet in the world with a total area of 301 m2, woven in 2001 and in 2003 listed in the G

20 January 2023

Culture

Potter Is an Ancient Profession

They say that the first drawing of a human was a line drawn with a stick on the ground. Dragging a stick behind him, he saw that it left a trail behind him, he admired it in surprise and drew more and more. Over time, he tried to draw parallels. Thus he took the first steps in acquiring the drawing technique. It is impossible to verify how right those who put forward this hypothesis are. But the statement that craving for beauty is transmitted to humans by the genetic code from one generation to another and that this quality manifests itself even in the childhood makes us think. The children’s craving to draw anywhere, and then admire “their works” is cited as evidence. Thus, they begin to learn the world in childhood, reproducing the elementary discovery of their forefathers. People always strive to the beautiful, and this elevates them above other living beings. It manifests itself in people in different ways. Someone receives pleasure from contemplating the surrounding world, someone from studying artworks. However, there are also those who have an inner need to create and present beauty to people.

20 January 2023

Culture

Every Gulyaka Has the Sun

In the western region of the country, a round pectoral gulyaka is called “gottaç çakly gülýakalar”. The Yomud version of this item of women’s clothing has the form of a shining solar disk with a big bulge in the centre. This form somewhat resembles of a round shell on the seabed, inside which precious pearls are securely hidden from human eyes. The so-called shell can be conditionally divided into four equal proportional parts, which symbolise the four seasons and demonstrate their orderly cyclical scheme. This small “sun” has a reflection of the change of natural phenomena – the summer equinox, the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The stones are arranged in a small scattering in a circle in the edging of the piece of jewellery. Looking at this piece created by human hands, it is as if you were turning over the pages of a calendar that gives the owner – certainly a married woman who was ordered to wear this piece of jewellery – willpower, spirit, patience, wisdom and femininity. You are captivated by the simple and distinct beauty of the jewellery piece and its exquisite and perfect proportions.

20 January 2023

Culture

In the Land of Gifted Children

Solemn ceremonies in honour of summing up the results of the state competition for Gulbaba Children's Award were held last week at the Centre for Public Organisations of Turkmenistan and in the administrative centres of five velayats of our country. Events to identify young talents were organised by the Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan. The Gulbaba Children's Award is a recognition of the creative talents of children who have taken their first successful steps in the world of creativity and art. The Gulbaba Award was presented to the most talented young people of the country – winners of subject Olympiads, young singers, dancers and musicians.

13 January 2023

Culture

Moscow Circus in the Turkmen Land

The news that the stars of the Big Moscow Circus on Vernadsky Avenue are giving their performances in Ashgabat is of great interest to adults and children in the series of festive New Year celebrations. These days, residents and guests of the capital of Turkmenistan enjoy unique circus shows included in the Golden Fund of the Russian circus. Honoured artists, winners of international contests and festivals, perform to the audience. The world-class circus artists will perform under the dome of the Turkmen State Circus until January 10, 2023. So the show begins. Spectators watch with bated breath everything happening on the arena: they are delighted with the performances of aerialists, jugglers, tightrope walkers, acrobats, high-wire artists, unique acrobatic equestrian stunt shows and performances with trained bears, dogs and cats. Certainly, the performances cannot do without a funny and always long-awaited clown. The carpet clown Boris Nikishin gave many positive emotions to parents and especially children. Spectacular and exciting stunts and very difficult numbers performed by the recognised circus artists evoked the delight in spectators and loud applause.

6 January 2023

Culture