III International Festival of the Turkmens of the World “The Turkmen Land – the Country of Reforms” has opened in Turkmenistan today. The large forum bringing together our compatriots from different countries of the world in the historical homeland is conducted on the initiative and under the patronage of President of Turkmenistan, President of the Humanitarian Association of the World Turkmen Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The Turkmen people are one of the oldest nations of the world who have carefully preserved the tangible and spiritual treasures crated by the forefathers and made them a national wealth. The major aim of the International Festival is to develop and promote the national cultural heritage of the Turkmen people as an integral part of the human civilization, expand artistic and spiritual contacts with the Turkmens residing in the other countries and present Turkmenistan’s’ achievements to foreign guest. The forum is to contribute to bringing up the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and respect for national traditions and customs, the study of the culture and customs of the Turkmens residing in different regions of the world and promotion the ideas of humanism and internationalism. The International Festival is organized by the Humanitarian Association of the World Turkmen, the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting and the Ahal Velayat Khyakimlik.
This year the International Festival of the Turkmens of the World “The Turkmen Land – the Country of Reforms” is conducted in our country for the third time that testifies to its topicality and significance. The popularity of this forum is illustrated by the expanded geographic range and increased number of participants. The families and family art groups representing several generations, who carefully preserve and develop traditions and customs inherited from forefathers, take part in the art competitions arranged in the velayats for the right to participate in the Festival.
This year the families from the Russian Federation, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Germany, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and all five regions of Turkmenistan have arrived in Ashgabat to take part in the art forum. The Festival is aimed at spotlighting the community of cultures, traditions and historical fates of the representatives of the Turkmen people residing in different countries of the world, who have received an opportunity to maintain close contacts with the historical homeland and keep abreast of fundamental changes taking place in the forefathers’ land in the new historical epoch. Our compatriots all over the world take pride in and welcome all positive initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
It has become a tradition to conduct the International Festival in the springtime in the picturesque valley in the territory of Ak Bugday Etrap. A stylized Turkmen village with colourful large yurts, which will be the venue for the festivities and the cultural centre for four days, is located there.
The Festival will be a unique opportunity for the people and guests of our country to learn about the traditions and customs of the Turkmen people, the national festive rites preserved for millennia. Each family participating in the Festival will cook delicious dishes of Turkmen cuisine, demonstrate national rites, wonderful handicrafts, present performances, perform music, songs and dances introducing the glorious and great past of our people, their wonderful present to the guests and Festival participants.
The guests of these bright celebrations will see enchanting musical performances that reflect a variety of folk traditions of all five velayats of Turkmenistan and admire the craftsmanship of carpet makers, embroideresses, jewelers and craftsmen. They will enjoy unsurpassed beauty and grace of Ahalteke horses, watch the competitions of Turkmen wrestlers and horse riders and take part in numerous national games and funny contests. Each day of the art forum promises to be rich in interesting events and meetings and add new colours and unforgettable impressions to the cultural life of the country.
The Festival is of particular interest to the people of Ashgabat and other regions of the country who come together with their families to the Turkmen capital as well as to foreign guests of Turkmenistan for whom the festival is ‘a live museum’ of the national traditions. The Turkmen and foreign news agencies accredited to Turkmenistan are preparing for the forum. The programmes created by Turkmen and foreign journalists will considerably expand the audience of the International Festival.
The organizers prepared the programme of cultural events for our foreign guests including the visits to the large museums and landmarks of the Turkmen capital and its suburbs.