NEWS

Cultural properties of world significance – wealth of the ancient Turkmen land

Ashgabat Hosts a Thematic International Scientific and Practical Conference and Exhibition In the Turkmen capital, on the initiative of President ­Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the International Scientific and Practical Conference entitled “Turkmen Land – the Centre of Cultural Values of World Popularity” was held.

Book is spiritual treasure

The work of libraries enriches the cultural life and holds to the state policy of independent and permanently neutral Turkmenistan in the epoch of might and happiness. The wise and far-sighted policy put forward by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has resulted in the outstanding development of our country. The Turkmen leader emphasized that along with the Internet and nanotechnologies, books have great educational, intellectual, artistic and scientific potential, and that young people should actively attend the libraries. The President of Turkmenistan noted that the variety of works by the world-known writers should be enlarged and provided in the electronic form.

Dutar making craftsmanship and baghshi art included into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

«Türkmenistan Sport», № 4, 2021 The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO has inscribed Turkmen national dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singing into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Dutar making craftsmanship and bagshi art were included into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

«7/24.tm», №01 (84), 03.01.2022. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO inscribed Turkmen national dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singing into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Tamdyr: traditions of baking

The purpose of modern museums is to study, preserve and promote the historical heritage of the Turkmen people, who have centuries-old rich history and culture. The ethnography department of the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan has a rich collection of national clothes, jewellery and household items. Since farming was the main economic sector of the Turkmen people, many exhibits tell about the labour of grain growers and associated practices. After reaping a rich harvest, dayhans held special celebrations in honour of this event so that subsequent years would be good for the crops. These centuries-old traditions continue to this day.

Hunting Stories Literature

All sorts of occasions, which sometimes leave very strong impressions, not always pleasant ones, in the memory of not only people, but also animals, always occur in hunting. «Those who have not seen fear have not been on the hunt,» people say. Here are some stories on this theme. A Fight at the Cost of a Voice

A drink of vigour and health

Who of you has never drunk camel chal – a lightly carbonated natural product with slightly sour taste that pleasantly tingles in your mouth? This ancient national nutritious dietary product, which has come to us from the depths of centuries, helps cure many diseases. The eco-friendly beverage from camel milk conveys the aroma and rich colours of the desert. However, this mixture comprises only natural ingredients, and it has all the useful properties; it is one of the major components in healthy recipes proven by millennia. The outstanding nutritional, dietary and therapeutic characteristics of camel milk and camel milk products as well as a great demand are driving a growing commercial interest. In recent years, a number of large private camel breeding farms has been set up in the country with the support of the Turkmen leader, who describes the incredibly valuable properties of camel milk and chal in his books, and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan. One of them is the farm of Polat Kanayev in Geoktepe etrap that specialises in dairy production.

Original design of turkmen felt rug

The nations that have preserved the traditions of culture, everyday life and art always have a fertile soil to let professional decorative and applied arts prosper. Over the centuries, people have tried to express their understanding of life, nature and the world in an artistic form through songs, fairy tales, epics, folk festivals, dances and household items. The ancient techniques of making felt rugs have been preserved until our days in many Turkmen villages. Today, felt rugs remain an integral attribute of daily life of a Turkmen family. Since ancient times, the Turkmen people have called their house a felt house. Felt covered the yurt, protected from the sun, wind and moisture, insulated and adorned the floor and turned the walls into a carpet art gallery. Felt rugs served as blankets for horses and cloaks for shepherds. In the hands of the Turkmen people, wool turned into handmade pictures that deserve to be called masterpieces of decorative and applied arts.

Silk rainbow of keteni

This year, 2,100 tons of silkworm cocoons have been produced in Turkmenistan - a valuable raw material for one of the leading branches of the domestic agricultural industry, which has a long history and traditions. Since ancient times, the Turkmen people have been engaged in silkworm breeding and made clothes of silk, decorated with silk embroidery. Clothes made of natural silk, which are warm in winter and cool in summer, were highly valued. Silk threads were also used in carpet weaving to manufacture especially delicate and elegant products. Silk imparted colorful tints to ancient carpet designs, transforming carpets into the magnificent specimens of fine art. The possibilities of modern production make it possible to produce fabrics of various density and texture from silk yarn - from thin chiffon and silk organza to dense taffeta and silk brocade. However, the most famous fabric among the Turkmen people has been the silk homespun fabric of keteni for many centuries. Due to its strength and brightness, it has always been highly valued and in great demand. The specimens of ancient silk fabrics made in the ancient Turkmen city of Merv are kept at  the famous museums of Egypt, Great Britain and the USA.  A characteristic feature of keteni are the golden stripes that frame the edges of the fabric and remain on the front side of the product, emphasizing its constructive

Paintings as a gift

The State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan is the place where the largest collection of valuable artefacts that reveal the rich cultural heritage of the country, its diversity of flora and fauna is kept. It is constantly replenished due to the conducted scientific and practical research. In October, a well-known geologist of Turkmenistan, Candidate of Geology and Mineralogy, Lecturer of Magtymguly Turkmen State University Anatoly Bushmakin presented to the museum as a gift 50 watercolours and 30 graphic works created by him over 40 years. Anatoly Grigoriyevich became interested in painting back in his school years and attended one of the creative centres of Ashgabat. He was taught an art of painting and selection of colour shades by the Honoured Artist of Turkmenistan Ivan Illarionovich Ilyin. The teacher noted the capabilities of the young student, who was distinguished by his artistic handwriting and special vision of nature and considered that his paintings were worthy of representing Turkmenistan at the All-Union competition among schoolchildren and was not mistaken with the selection – seven paintings took the first place. It was in 1950. However, despite this success, his love for geology outweighed his interest in painting and after finishing school and serving in the army, in 1953, the young man entered the Turkmen State University, where