National Spring Holiday - International Nowruz Day was celebrated with great effect in Turkmenistan.The main events of the celebration were expanded on tradition place Nowruz ýaýlasy where the building in the shape of huge traditional tent Türkmeniň ak öýi has been built.
This place keeps the layers of ancient civilizations.It is Ahal foothills where the farmers started to cultivate the wheat for the first time.The legendary ahalteke horses were also originated from this place.
In the morning, the guests and participants of the celebration on occasion of spring arrival and nature awakening, which symbolize the peace and harmony among people, good neighbourhood and friendship, went to this place.
This year, which is held under the slogan “Turkmenistan is the Heart of the Great Silk Road”, the Nowruz Holiday connected two epochs the one that gave birth and life to the legendary ancient life artery of huge continent that became the symbol of progress and cooperation and our time when this historical route is restored in new format.
Important international initiatives of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that are highly appreciated by the world community owing to practical measures taken by Turkmenistan for their implementation in the region are aimed for this purpose.
The President of the country arrived there by helicopter and afterwards, went together with the members of the Government, leaders of the Mejlis, ministries and departments of the country, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic corps accredited in Turkmenistan to Nowruz ýaýlasy place.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the guests were greeted by the columns of school and university students with flags and balloons, honoured elders, residents of Ahal velayat and the capital, participants of the event from all the places of our homeland lined up along road.
There were representatives of Afghanistan, Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Iran.Traditionally, the group of tourists from United States of America, Australia, Great Britain, France, Norway, Singapore and other countries, which number grows in the spring, arrived to the place of the celebration.
This is a unique opportunity to see the whole picture of original traditions, starting from work and artistic to cooking, to dive into inexpressible atmosphere of the celebration and to touch not only the museum history but also the living soul of the nation.
International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other who arrived in our country to monitor coming elections of the Mejlis deputies, members of the People’s councils and Gengeshys were also the guests of the celebration.
Wonderful city from oriental fairy tale outstretched its properties across the place.Spacious meadow became the huge stage for the celebration and Turkmen settlements with all particular attributes, busy trade cities, which were scattered along the Silk Road that used to run across our country, were the decorations of the place.
The girls welcomed with traditional bread and salt, treats and sweets inviting everybody to take part in bright celebration, which started from the tree planting ceremony… Having warmly greeted the participants, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov went to the place prepared for tree plantation.
The President planted young mulberry tree, having started mass greening action.Representative of practically all branches of national economy as well as diplomatic corps accredited in Turkmenistan and foreign guests of our country took part in the event.
After, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the guests of the celebration went to the entrance of original historical gallery, which is made in the shape of book of the President “Turkmenistan is the Heart of the great Silk Road”.
The book was opening and its front page with the map of ancient trade routes turned into the arch inviting everybody to make a trip along this exciting narration filled with wonderful legends and stories taken as the basis of this grandiose celebration performance.
Journey on the cities of Turkmen land that have left a bright track in the chronicles of our nation and its cultural heritage, was starting.Lebap was the first to welcome the guests.
In the ancient times, Amul was the place where the Jeytun used to carry its waters, which banks preserved many evidences of the past like Dayahatyn caravansary.Demonstration of the tools was on the right hand side of the path and anyone could watch the work of the masters, which skills used to make magnificent and beautiful works of decorative and applied art and architectural masterpieces.
Astanababa Mausoleum is one of such monuments, to which the flow of pilgrims never stops.next to the decorations imitating architectural look of this memorial complex, the artists of S.
Seydi Lebap Theatre performed the stage play of the plot of the legend about the ruler and dervish from the book of the President of Turkmenistan.After, the exhibition of handcrafts made in traditional for Amudarya region style was expanded along the way.
It also showed the process of making of home textile, lint-free carpets (kilim) and patchwork technology.The next monument that met the guests of celebration was the Alamberdar Mausoleum representing the sample of XI century architecture.
Decoration construction on Nowruz ýaýlasy reflected in details the decoration of facades with ornamental brickworks and arched niches.At this place, united dance band performed folk composition reflecting of the legends from the book of President of Turkmenistan about forty girls.
The legend says that in old times, forty beautiful girls used to live in the mountain village next to the gorge.They used to come to cool cave every day where took rest and swam.
Once, the village was raided by the enemies.Young girls hid in the canyon, however their secret shelter was discovered.The enemy was close to the cave when the girls started to pray and ask the Almighty on salvation.
The magic happened: the rocks has parted and the girls hid themselves in the passage.The girls belongings like clothes and dishware turned into stones.People used such beautiful legends to describe event the landscape features, having immortalize the memory of national history in their names.
Artists of the Main Drama Theatre played the scene of the chess game, which were common in those days in the inn, inside big construction imitating famous Dayahatyn caravansary.
This costume stage play took us thousand years in the past reminding of Turkmen Prince Abubekr As-Suli, famous in the X century, who is the author of quite interesting treaties about the chess “Shatranj-nama”.
There were many of various goods that merchants gathering in caravansaries from all over the world used to transport.However, the silk was that gave name to the whole route from Asia to Europe used the most precious goods.
In the medieval, the merchants carry such items along the Silk Road to Mediterranean from where it was spread around Europe.The traditions of skilled craft were not lost with the time so is its succession never stopped, therefore even today, these goods are not only the heritage and museum evidence but also the living connection of the generations and epochs.
The continuers of original crafts had an opportunity to present their exclusive products to wide range of shoppers and to connoisseurs of skilled handcraft.Together with the items of artistic handcrafts, simple items of traditional household articles like wooden dishware are also very valuable, people say that food from such dishes tastes much better.
And so it is, the food is preserved excellently in such dishware and some are able to give additional taste to the dish having absorbed wooden scents.Besides, some wood species are known with bactericidal and tonic properties.
Besides the durability unlike glass or porcelain dishes, environmental friendliness is the main advantage of such dishware.Therefore, foreign guests buy wooden dishes, bowls and other wares of kitchen or dining accessories made by Turkmen masters with pleasure.
Right after filigree pavilions of wooden crafts, the strong walls of Big Gyzgala rise to the sky.The reconstruction of its image communicates the magnificence of this unique construction.
Many of remained monuments of Ancient Merv are related with the women as people say: this is either rulers, as it is obvious from the name Gyzbibi (Master girl) or a princess.
There are several legends about Gyzgala monument (Girls Stronghold).According to one of them, Big and Small Gyzgala located next to each other used to be called Gyzgala and Yigitgala (Mens Stronghold) as one of them was inhabited by the girls while the men used to live in another one.
If some of the guys was able to throw an apple to the girls’ castle he could marry any beauty from the stronghold.There is a version that owing to these circumstances the slingshot has been invented.
Another true pearl of Merv is Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum.It is represented by the legend mentioned by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in book “Turkmenistan is the Heart of the Great Silk Road” about the love of the sultan to the peri.
The artists of Kemine State Drama Theatre expressively shoed this fairy tale.The exhibition was continued by the exposition of the jewelleries where the works of students and teachers of the State Arts Academy of Turkmenistan and specialized art school were presented.
The magic of turning the silver and precious stones into the poem was shown by master jeweller, having impressed the spectators with precise methods and skilful handling of tools.
One cannot help stopping to enjoy the work of skilful embroiderers at the display with the sample of national dress.Women dress is decorated with special ornaments, however the wedding shawl “kurte” is considered to be the top of decoration art.
Colourful oriental bazar stretched on Nowruz ýaýlasy ground.It presented the variety of national crafts items and goods.Ancient tunes performed by bakhshys were beautiful background of the action.
Emotional audience was crowded around the performers.Fights of the wrestlers and national games, for which there used to be special place on crowded square, were played in the distance.
At the same place, one could see the cooking of ritual dish called “semeni” and how the wheat for celebration green composition was seeped.This is the opening of Ahal Velayat sector the region of famers.
Women gathered under large shade on the left from the road demonstrated the whole cycle of the dough preparation as it was made in the past centuries starting form milling the grains on grindstones until sifting the flour and its kneading.
Cult monument of Ahal mediaeval Abul-Fazla monument, also known as Serakhs baba, was presented there.The stage performance played at its walls by joined group of artist narrated about the origin of white wheat and farming traditions.
After, the artists of Magtumguly Turkmen National Music and Drama Theatre performed noble session of the scientists astronomers, mathematicians, philosophers thinking about the universe structure and sharing their discoveries and new knowledge with each other.
Seyit Jemaleddin Mosque is one of the unique monuments in Ahal Velayat.It was built in the XV century but underwent major destructions by Ashgabat earthquake in 1948.
Only some restored remains have survived until our days.However, the mosque has retained its importance and presents keen interest for the tourists and scientists nowadays.Restored mosaic picturing winding dragons and the sign saying that it was called the House of Beauty on the background of plant ornament is the main success in the work of the restorers.
Images of dragons are not characteristic for the mosques and this mosaic decoration has no analogues in Central Asia.The researches beat their brains for a long time over the reason of such unusual picture and come to the conclusion that dragon was the totem of local population in those times.
Although, there is beautiful legend how the tenants of the village saved the dragon and were gifted with the gold for this, which they spent on construction of the mosque.
Theatre performance presented the history of Abiverd Stronghold one of historical sanctuary of Turkmenistan.Craftsmen neighbourhoods, different metal items indicating the existence of copper smiths and jewellers have been discovered there.
The pottery was also highly developed.There is plenty of information about all of these in the books of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.Bright pyramids of fresh vegetables and fruits under large tent supplemented the exhibition of gifts of Turkmen fields and gardens.
The best master chefs demonstrated cooking of national dishes according to traditional recipes, which were offered to the guests.Forty horsemen, camel caravan, flocks of sheep protected by alabays were in the distance behind white yurtas.
The performance of Nowruz ýaýlasy ground was continued with the story about Parthian stronghold Nisa.The stage play of the fight of Oguz against his strong rival was performed by the actors of Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre at its monumental walls.
Having applauded to the artists, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov went to the arena, which was immediately surrounded by numerous spectators as the performances of national Equestrian Group Galkynysh of the State Association Turkmenatlary is always unforgettable.
And again, Turkmen riders on beautiful horses demonstrated their unique skills, having given lot of excitement and storm of emotions.Foreign guests were worried with every trick, couldn’t believing their eyes that such amazing miracles of agility and extraordinary equilibristic that seemed to be beyond the edge of possible can be performed so easy.
Having expressed the gratitude to the members of the group for beautiful show including the youngest member of breath-taking tricks, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued his way, having looked around the exhibition of horse harnesses.
The master told to foreign guests how and from what materials these items are made.The picture of richness of Turkmen table was supplemented with the collection of dry raisings and other delicacies of nature.
The visitors was demonstrated how the best grape raisings is made, various species of grape that is grown in Turkmenistan from the ancient times were presented.Many of foreign guests showed the interest in the work of sakia that was used in the past for irrigation of fields and gardens.
Balkan velayat opened its part with the exhibition of fish production from Turkmenbalyk busness entity.Small pond in the shape of Caspian sea with the fish was built on Nowruz ýaýlasy ground and folk band of the western region imitated the fishermen pulling the net with rich catch under the sounds of kushtdepdy.
For sure, it could not be the celebration without the dance itself, which is energetic and unstoppable like the waves taking the run.Before the next performance, the participants of the event were awaited with the exhibition of wooden items where the masters from Balkan Velayat was explaining about the secrets of the craft and about that magic they use to turn the piece of wood into finest lace or into the mechanism with number of small parts.
Big models of Dekhistan monuments raised mystical landscapes of Misrian Plain where bright oasis used to flourish once upon a time and where number of ancient buildings remained until our days.
The level of development of Dekhistan culture is indicated by its planning and availability of water supply and sewage system, brick pavements and public baths.President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov writes in his book that ancient Ferava settlement was located at the foothills of the mountains on the way from Nisa to Dekhistan.
Virtuous woman from this city was betrayed by one of her acquaints and had to run hiding from the enemies who almost caught up with her.She went farther and farther to the mountains.
The enemies guided by the traitor along unknown path started to catch up with her.Then Parau-bibi appealed to the Almighty with a pray.He listened to her and parted the rock where brave woman had entered and left there unconquered forever.
According to the scientists, the mausoleum was built in such picturesque mountain top in IX X centuries, however, probably the honour of this place goes back far to the older times as the name Parau means Parthian woman, the President notes, while the image of Parau-bibi is similar to the cult of Mother God that appeared in Turkmen land in neolith epoch.
The turn of Dashoguz Velayat has come on this spring festival of work, traditions and legends.The northern region started its demonstration with the exhibition of artisans, who were famous in that region.
After, all spectators were invited to the stage ground where the reconstruction of famous Tyurabek Hanym Mausoleum was the decoration while the legend of tender love of young master to the ruler’s daughter was the plot of the story.
It is worth specifying that there are many versions of this legend and the artist of Andalib State Drama Theatre performed the play, having understood the tone of the narration in book “Turkmenistan is the heart of the Great Silk Road” and tried to broadcast entire essence of many legends in short fragment.
One of them says that the khan was against such son-in-law even though he was talented architect.Havig decided to use his gift, the khan told to the master to build such high tower that all my lands could be seen from its top and then I will allow you to marry Tyurabek Hanym.
When the tower was built, the young man was on the very top and khan did not keep his words and asked him to jump telling that if he would survive he would have Tyrabek hanym.
The man made wings from remained poles and fabric, tied to his arms and jumped.The wind caught him up and carried far away… He was looking for the way back for many years and returned to the walls of Kunyaurgench when he was an old man.
He found out in the city that the khan had passed away long time ago so did his beloved Tyurabek Hanym.Then he built the mausoleum on top of her grave and that mausoleum was the best in the world.
Tyurabek Hanym Mausoleum is located next to Kutlug Timur Minaret and by right is thought to be the most beautiful monument of Kunyaurgench.Built in the XIV century, this true masterpiece of medieval architecture was well preserved until our days.
Never ever before the architecture of Central Asia knew such luxury decoration of the façade and interiors, such artistic freedom in organization of space and subjected to the solution of single artistic objective.
Together with skilful architects and constructors, Dashoguz Velayat is famous with talented skinners.Their items were also demonstrated at the exhibition and attracted keen interest of the tourists.
The variety of architectural places of interests of Kunyaurgench was demonstrated by the model of Khorezmshakh Tekesh Mausoleum.Once upon a time, it raised above the city on 30 meters and was some kind of the lighthouse in the desert.
Tired travellers making their way across burning deserts saw it from the distance and by thus received the signal of the end of their hard journey.United collective of Dashoguz Velayat played the scene of Gyorogly marriage ceremony on the background of Khorezmshakh Tekesh Mausoleum.
What kind of wedding is that without rich treatment?This subject was met by the exposition of halvah and other traditional sweets.At the same place, the chefs cooked the “plov” for all participants of the celebration as it goes without saying that the best “plov” is made from pearl Dashoguz rice.
Ringing voices were heard from high swings.The ride on the swings is thought to be some kind of spirit cleansing ritual allowing entering new year with new strength, open heart and pure intents.
Symbolical rituals of cleansing are very typical for Nowruz, which are also involve the fires that have to be jumped over to burn all unnecessary and burdening things.After, the action went to the halls decorated in national style representing the countries participating in the celebration of current International Nowruz Day.
The traditions and special features of Nowruz celebration were presented by art groups and ensembles from Afghanistan, the Republic of Tatarstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Iran.They demonstrated specific traditions, folk dances, tunes, national dress, decorative and applied art items and modern paining.
Celebration concert was held in the building of Nowruz ýaýlasynyň ak öýi on occasion of National Spring Holiday - International Nowruz Day.President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was honoured guest of the concert.
Famous popular singers, theatre artists, music and dance ensembles form all the velayats took part in the concert.Bright performances demonstrated rich heritage of Turkmen nation and versatility of its artistic talents.
National songs and works of modern authors were performed during the concert.After, Turkmen leader took part in celebration food donation ceremony on occasion of current event after which, the Head of the State said warm goodbye to the particpants of the event and left the place. *** The concerts and other events took place in all administration centre of the regions and in Ashgabat.