FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Uzbekistan (Press Release) April 30, 2008 -- Aimed at preserving and developing traditional culture the Festival will be held every year in different historical and cultural centers of Uzbekistan in the form of outdoor event.
The first Festival of “Asrlar sadosi” will be held on 3-4 May 2008 in Kitab district of Kashkadarya region. The programme of the Festival includes:
- competitive performances of folklore groups;
- contest of traditional folk singers – bakhshi;
- concerts and performances;
- festival of national costumes;
- traditional art exhibition;
- presentation of art of cookery;
- traditional contest games – horse racing (ulok), wrestling (kurash) and etc.
It is expected that about 5 thousand people will take part in the Festival including folklore and theatre groups, singers, musicians, dancers, traditional folk singers (bakhshi), clowns, designers, artists, prominent representatives of applied art, masters of national cuisine.
The event will be attended by well-know cultural workers of Uzbekistan and foreign countries, representatives of diplomatic community and international organizations in Tashkent as well as the national and international Mass Media.
Although the Festival is taking place for the first time it is generating tremendous interest among many who applied for participation in the event. Among them about three hundred folk performers: musicians, dancers, folk narrators and others. Besides, 26 designers will take part in the festival of national costume during the event. 31 masters of applied arts, over ten chefs of the Uzbek national cuisine are among festival participants and more than 30 horsemen are ready to perform their skills in traditional form of horse racing – ulok. Participants will represent all the regions of Uzbekistan.
Special attention deserves the participation in the Festival of young talents - winners of major national contests such us “Kelajak ovozi” (Voice of the Future), Festival of child art “Yangi Avlod” (New Generation) and other youth projects of the Fund Forum Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan.
Young designers with their collection in the style of “Ethno” presenting costumes from national textiles, embroidery and other elements of traditional outfit will take part in the festival of national costumes.
Traditional arts fair will exhibit the work of the best masters of ceramics, engraving, gold-embroidery, miniatures, textiles, wood engraving and others.
Besides the above mentioned there will be traditional horse racing – ulok, contest of cuisiniers, competitive performances of folklore groups, master-classes of the craftsman, presentations and demonstrative performances, contests and quizzes for the audience.
The Festival is also drawing attention of internationally recognized representatives of culture and arts of foreign countries. A number of them including those from Austria, Bulgaria, China, France, Japan, Russia and other countries have already confirmed their participation in the Festival.
The Festival will create a unique opportunity to get closely in touch with rich traditions and multidimensional art of Uzbekistan. It is the opportunity of not only watching, but being directly involved, experiencing and understanding the richness of the ancient culture of Uzbekistan.