Solemn opening of the Culture Week took place in Ahal valley, in the building of Nowruz ýaýlasynyň ak öýi. This large-scale campaign is held annually in different regions of the country as a showcase of the vibrant and diverse local culture. The opening ceremony of the Culture Week–2018 was held in the picturesque Ahal Valley, in Ak Bugday district that is a landmark place for the history of our country. This region bears the memories of ancient civilizations. Thousands of years ago high farming culture blossomed here, more precisely, it was in the foothills of this region that people began cultivating wheat, and the legendary Akhal Teke breed also originated here. Carefully preserved cultural values and traditions of our ancestors develop and serve as an important factor of international humanitarian cooperation. It is not by chance that the Ahal Valley hosts annual functions dedicated to the National Spring Festival, International Nowruz Day, that symbolizes peace, harmony, good-neighborliness and friendship. Related to this is the contemporary name of the venue and the building constructed here, Nowruz ýaýlasynyň ak öýi, a white yurt that is a symbol of Turkmen hospitality, unique historical and cultural heritage of our people. The festive atmosphere prevails at Nowruz ýaýlasy that gathered numerous guests. Delegations at the Culture Week include prominent theatrical artists, popular and folk singers, museum specialists and library professionals, artists and writers, professional bands and popular folk and ethnographic groups from all regions of the country. Cultural groups, soloists and folk ensembles perform welcome dances and songs to greet the participants. Food and refreshments are offered to all. Exhibition of fine, decorative and applied art, deeply national in content and quite extensive in expression, an exposition combining the best centuries-long national traditions, is organized at the hall of Nowruz ýaýlasynyň ak öýi. Among participants of the opening ceremony of the Cultural Week–2018 were senior officials and representatives of the Ministry of Culture and its subordinate organizations, creative universities of the country, the general public and the media, cultural figures and masters of art, honorable elders and students. Songs were performed during the show, including those to the poems of Magtymguly Pyragy, and songs praising the modern epoch. The original interpretation of the soundtrack to the movie Cunning of Old Ashir loved by generations of viewers was presented to the audience. It was accompanied by the choreographic composition reflecting the atmosphere of that time. The audience enthusiastically welcomed the bagshy who represented the five provinces of the country and reflected the unique style and extraordinary manner of performance characteristic of every region and shaping the wide range of the national musical culture. As is the tradition, the masters of art prepared numerous premieres to coincide with their professional holiday. Performances by recognized professionals and young singers, winners of creative contests, created the glimmering panorama of this holiday where older music and songs were intertwined with dynamic popular beats of our day and dance performances. In the afternoon the functions dedicated to the Culture Day–2018 continued at the Malikguly Berdimuhamedov Cultural Center located in Yzgant village of Gokdepe district of Ahal province. The poetic evening headlined “Inspiration of Happiness” united both renowned language masters and young poets. During the upcoming week, the open-air stage in front of the Cultural Center of Anew town of Ahal province where the masters of art performed today will be used by creative groups as a kind of a reporting platform. Concerts of popular singers and young talents, art expositions and exhibitions of decorative and applied art, editorial production, museum items, movie screenings, poetic evenings, conferences and creative meetings organized as part of the forum will help discover different facets of Turkmen culture. The agenda of the next day is dedicated to the great Turkmen poet and thinker, Magymguly Pyragy. Cultural figures, masters of art, scientists and education personnel, representatives of public organizations will visit his museum located in the district named after him in Balkan province, where a thematic meeting headlined “Magtymguly Pyragy: the Pride of Our Hearts” will be organized, and lay flowers to the poet’s monument in the village of Gorkez. Young talents will present their achievements in the central park of Anew town of Ahal province. The provincial library will host a methodical conference and a book exhibition titled “The Great Silk Road in the Books of Hero Arkadag” organized by its staff. The function headlined “The Folk Art is the National Cultural Heritage” will be held at the Turkmen State Institute of Culture to celebrate the roots of the art of music. In the evening, masters of art from Lebap and Mary provinces will perform on stage in front of the Cultural Center of Anew town of Ahal province.