Mary hosts main events of Novruz Holiday

Turkmen citizens met National spring holiday, International Novruz Day with bright celebrations. Colourful folk and ethnographic performances, bright national dresses, songs and dances, which came to us from the past, highlighted deep symbolism of this ancient celebration honouring awakening and renewal of life. 

The main events of this day were held in Mary at the square near «Türkmeniň ak öýi» centre for public and cultural events. The white yurt is Turkmen symbol of hospitality, original historical and cultural heritage and protection of its origins. The yurts, light portable constructions, which were used by our ancestors, can be met not only in rural areas but in the cities as well. They are being set up as bright ethnographic features during large celebrations. 
 

The chairperson of the Mejlis, members of the government, leaders of ministries and departments, hyakims of the velayats, representatives of non-governmental organizations, foreign and local mass media, heads of diplomatic missions of foreign states and international organization accredited in Turkmenistan, cultural workers of the country, numerous local residents and delegations form the velayats, foreign guests arrived in Mary for Novruz celebration. All visitors were warmly welcomed at Mary Airport with national traditional sweets and fruits. 

Special atmosphere of Turkmen celebration was felt everywhere. Neat yurts were set up along the road decorated with multi-coloured bands and flags. Women did fancywork, span the wool, weaved the carpets, made felt mats or cook food. Musicians, singers and dancers performed in the same place. Sportsmen - representatives of martial arts, trampoline acrobats, classic style wrestlers and others demonstrated their skills. Horsemen with the State flags riding beautiful ahalteke horses lined up along the road. 
 

Wonderful city from oriental fairy tale spread out after symbolical gates to celebration ground. Novruz 2017 sign was made from the green wheat springs. 

Grandiose exposition comprising of decorative and applied arts articles, works of painters, craftsmen, carpets, jewellery, horse accessories, traditional Turkmen household items and ancient work tools, was expanded in the open near the «Türkmeniň ak öýi». The holiday of vernal equinox takes special place in farmers’ calendar defining the start of field works and new agricultural year. 

Large Turkmen settlement with yurts, topchans, coaching inns with livestock, steaming cookers harmonically combined with oriental bazar with colourful tents, quick barker and artists who entertain people. Magnificent and joyful Turkmen celebration honouring Novruz started sounding exultant melodies and began shining the rainbow colours. 
 

Artist bands, soloists and folk ensembles hailed the participants of the celebration with stirring music and dances. The children welcomed honoured guests with cheerful poems and happy songs. Kids demonstrated folk games and funs. Four-leg characters like alabay puppies, lambs and other successfully merged this scenery. 

Each region of the country prepared their own performance with music and ethnographic performances, exhibitions and plays demonstrating various traditions and moments of celebrating of Novruz as well as working processes. 

Large and heavy water-lifting wheel is rotating. This is the way they used to irrigate the fields, gardens and vineyards in the old days. Another appliance is a wooden press for wringing out vegetable oil. Its shaft, which increase the pressure on the material, is rotated by the camel walking around. This was the way our ancestors used to make oil from cotton seeds, sorghum and other. Not far from that place, one can see how they used to thrash the sheaves of mown wheat. 
 

Someone makes ploughs, somebody musical instruments; tradesmen sell fur hats and caps; bright silk fabrics are flowing; painted jags and dishes are shining with glazing. Next to it, there are masterpieces of consummate carpet and jewellery Turkmen arts, national embroidery. Ancient tunes performed by bakhshys gather emotional audience around and act as wonderful background to improvised action. 

One can see the process of cooking national dishes according to the recipes and technologies including the main dish of Novruz – the semeny, as well as wedding and family rituals. All these theatrical compositions were accompanied by songs, proverbs and sayings. 

The feeling of fascinating excursion t the ancient times is increased by large models of historical monuments of Turkmenistan like Ancient Merv, Kunyaurgench, Dekhistan, Anau and others. 
 

Small observatory of astrologer with terrestrial globe, telescope and other tools, scrolls of manuscripts was located not far from the mausoleum of the great Seljuk ruler Sultan Sanjar. 

The achievements of modern Turkmenistan are represented in the expositions demonstrating productions of agricultural complex, textile industry and other spheres. There are large variety of pastry and bakery, where some of them made in the shape of wheatears; giant chorek (traditional flat bread) amazed with its size and congratulation message on it. 

Textile production with logotypes of 2017 Asian Games, children and sport garments, gift sets attracted special attention of the visitors. 
 

Artistic vernisage including the works of outstanding painting masters as well as young successor of artistic traditions of our people is dedicated to the beauty of the spring, Turkmen nature, its gifts and people, who live in harmony with it. The collection of the canvas from the Fund of the Museum of Visual Arts of Turkmenistan was supplemented by the works of the students of the State Arts Academy and fosters of specialized art school. 

People’s celebration was accompanied by generous entertainment cooked on the stoves, near which the tables with various viands were set up. One could taste everything and the guests tried national dishes with pleasure and interest. One could drink either camel chal (sour milk) or green tea boiled in tuncha (kettle) on open fire by real masters of this healthy drink. 

One could watch the work of masters and learn the secrets of making musical instruments or see how jewellers, owing to which national jewellery art was famous throughout the East, made their items. 
 

Wood cravers worked hand by hand with jewellers. They made work pieces, which turned into beautiful and durable household items in their skilful hands. There were tinsmiths as well who revived ancient craft. Any settlement during those times were a complex with full circle of production and everything what was necessary for life, agriculture and aesthetic decoration was made by the craftsmen. 

It goes without saying that the art of Turkmen handmade carpet weaving is a peak of this huge iceberg of traditional crafts. The festival of ethnic traditions demonstrated how hard a person had to work to make beautiful carpet canvas or good, literally everlasting felt mat. 
 

After, the stage of «Türkmeniň ak öýi» held the concert of art masters of our country. Having greeted the participants, the presenters reminded on the history of Novruz, which was included in the UNESCO Non-Material World Heritage List. On February 23, 2010, the UN General Assembly declared March 2 as International Novruz Day. Relative UN General Assembly Resolution was adopted according to the initiative of group of the states including Turkmenistan. 

The address of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to compatriots on occasion of national spring holiday – International Novruz Day was read out. 

Literature and music, folklore and ethnographic compositions, which forestalled every song revealed the depth and richness of national traditions and their succession, were special feature of the concert. 

The programme included lyrical folk songs and fragments of destans, famous works of outstanding Turkmen composers and modern compositions. 
 

Folk and dance ensembles took part in the concert together with famous singers. 

The spectators were presented with original choreographic compositions and song and music plays reflecting character features of national culture. This artistic marathon allowed ensuring that Novruz traditions have new interpretation today and our heritage keeps live connection with modern generations. Everlasting kushtdepdi dance conquered the participants with its magic of gestures and rhythmic. 
 

After the events at «Türkmeniň ak öýi» were completed at the sun dawn, ritual fires were lit up and everyone who wished could jump over the fires the way our ancestors did in the ancient times believing that doing so would bring them luck and prosperity. This rite symbolizes spiritual catharsis as well as a cycle of existence and sun giving the life and the light. 

Holiday concerts and public cultural events were held on open grounds, parks and recreational zones in all administration centres of the country and Ashgabat.