ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Every year on October 17, UNESCO Member States celebrate the International Day for Intangible Cultural Heritage, established in 2023.

Our country pays special attention to the preservation and promotion of the unique traditions of the Turkmen people.

Turkmenistan became a full member of UNESCO on August 17, 1993, and in 2011, it acceded to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, where it has since actively participated in international efforts to implement its provisions. Over the years of cooperation with UNESCO, significant joint work has been accomplished, particularly in the area of preserving historical and spiritual heritage.

Passed down from generation to generation, many forms of art and unique traditions of the Turkmen people are included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Among them are the destan art of "Gorogly"; the Turkmen national art of singing and dancing "Kushtdepdi"; the craft of making the dutar, performing musical art on it, and the art of bakhshi; the Turkmen national art of carpet weaving; the Turkmen art of embroidery; sericulture and the traditional production of silk for weaving; the tradition of retelling the parable of Molla Ependi; the art of Akhal-Teke horse breeding and the tradition of decorating horses; the tradition of celebrating "Novruz", shared with other countries, which are today considered universal cultural heritage.

Active work continues on including the nomination “The Art of Breeding the Turkmen Alabay” in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Thanks to the efforts of the leadership of Turkmenistan, which provide great opportunities for the development and enrichment of our national culture and the widespread popularization of the rich heritage of the Turkmen people, the Turkmen people continue to contribute to the development of universal culture, preserving and developing their historical memory and the cultural code of the nation.