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 Guinness World Records, stands out. On December 12, 2019, during the 14th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, held in the capital of Colombia (Bogota), the Turkmen national art of carpet weaving was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.