FESTIVALS OF UZBEKISTAN

ABOUT FESTIVALS

In Uzbekistan, the most striking events are the theatrical celebrations of historical events, national holidays, as well as the demonstration of cultural Uzbek events that have come down to us from our ancestors, who carefully preserved them and passed them on from generation to generation. These colorful and always interesting events introduce the culture and lifestyle of the Uzbek people. If you are lucky enough to visit Uzbekistan during any festival, unforgettable impressions are waiting for you: folk festivals, oriental bazaars, various souvenir shops, open kitchens, master classes from Uzbek chefs and much more. You can take part in contests yourself, dance and even sing songs, because the Uzbeks are friendly and very hospitable people.

ASRLAR SADOSI ("ECHO OF THE AGES")

One of the annual festivals held in Uzbekistan is the Asrlar Sadosi festival. Each time the festival is celebrated in different cities and is a celebration of folk traditions, customs, applied arts, national cuisine and music. Most often, "Asrlar sadosi" takes place in the spring, somewhere in May, and lasts 2 days off. These days there are mass folk festivals, where people sing, dance, and hold competitions in the fresh air. Every year, thousands of participants gather to take part in this festival, which includes folklore groups, artisans, athletes, musicians, cooks. Tens of thousands of spectators, both tourists and locals, also come to the festival. For these two days of the festival, the city is transformed. It is decorated with flags, colorful banners, the whole city turns into one big oriental bazaar. Here everyone can buy a variety of souvenirs, beautiful fabrics, fabulous carpets, intoxicating spices with their aroma, and of course taste national dishes that are lovingly prepared by local chefs. Every year, the main organizer of this festival is the Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan Foundation and for the first time it was held in 2008 near the city of Shakhrisabz. And in cooperation with UNESCO, Asrlar Sadosi has been held since 2009.

SHARK TARONALARI INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Every two years, a grandiose musical show "Shark Taronalari" takes place in the fabulously beautiful city of Samarkand, and it is one of the most exciting, as well as large-scale events in the Central Asian region. "Shark taronalari" is translated from Uzbek as "Melodies of the East" and it is a tradition that this festival is held every time on the dazzling Registan square. Registan Square is part of a stunning architectural composition that has long been a monument to the great history of architecture of the East. There are three madrasahs on the square, the entrances to them are facing the center of this square. Since ancient times, Samarkand, called the Pearl of the East for its beauty and grandeur, has gathered the best scientists, scientists, poets, architects and many others who sang and gave a piece of themselves to this beautiful city. How beautiful Samarkand was for past generations, it remains so now – it is revered, admired and praised. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that such a grandiose festival as "Melodies of the East" is held in this great city of Samarkand – a city where the melodies of the past are in the air, which cannot be resisted and which simply force you to create. Each festival gathers talented musicians, creative teams from absolutely all corners of the planet in this city. For the music festival, a huge open-air stage is being built on the square, and the ancient monuments are wonderful acoustics. To make the festival memorable for both the participants and the audience, the organizers are doing their best: they provide the best decorations, the most interesting exhibitions, foreign guests and representatives of the press are invited. Some guests who come to the festival find themselves in Samarkand for the first time, and a tour of this amazing and ancient city turns out to be very convenient. Guests can visit the legendary tomb of Amir Temur, which gave rise to a huge number of legends known far beyond the borders of Uzbekistan, visit the beautiful Bibi Khanum Mosque, which impresses with its splendor and scale, and many, many other delightful monuments of architecture that have come down to us from the depths of centuries. Throughout the music festival, which lasts a week, exhibitions of national Uzbek dresses, folk instruments, as well as various art bazaars and conferences are organized. At the end of the festival, a grand gala concert is held, where the winners of the competition, as well as Uzbek pop stars, perform. And a wonderful, dazzling point at the end of the festival is a bright show of fireworks that illuminate the night sky of the fabulous city of Samarkand.