A large-scale creative forum continues to work in Mary, revealing the versatility of Turkmen culture in the era of the Revival of a new epoch of a powerful state. The rich program was accompanied by song, music and folklore performances by masters of arts, young artists.

In the morning, for the participants of the Culture Week it was organized a trip to Ancient Merv State Historical and Cultural Reserve, included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List, where they got acquainted with unique monuments and architectural masterpieces of antiquity – Big Kyz-Kala Fortress and the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. 

The delegates visited the Elbarsly Caravanserai, located in the center of Mary. Here is a colorful oriental teahouse, in which all the abundance of the national dastarkhan is presented.

The Creative Forum continued its work in the building of the velayat library, where it was held the thematic conference “Asyrlara salýan türkmen mirasy”, dedicated to the cooperation of Turkmenistan with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The conference, destined to emphasize the importance of strengthening and expanding close scientific ties, cooperation in the field of culture and heritage with major foreign research centers and international structures, brought together leaders and representatives of public organizations, university faculty, writers and the country’s journalists.

In the afternoon, Bayramali Culture House hosted a methodological conference on improving the activities of rural houses of culture, modernizing document management, restoring ancient samples of dance and folklore art, as well as an exhibition of handmade products.

The reports touched upon issues related to the culture of speech and the ethical aspect in theatrical productions, modern requirements in the preparation of methodological manuals for rural houses of culture and circles.

A separate topic for discussion was the internationally recognized traditional Turkmen dance – kushtdepdi. The participants were shown fragments of this dance, each of which reflected its original interpretation. Dance novels, replacing one another, created an atmosphere of involvement of the audience in a bright festive action.

As it was emphasized, kushtdepdi carries an original choreographic language honed for centuries, enhanced by vocal vibration, performers tell parables about the endless cycle of being, abolition of adversity and diseases, about love and the miracle of the birth of a new life.

As part of the program of the Culture Week, screenings of feature films of the Türkmenfilm Association named after Oguz Khan were held in Vekilbazar etrap.

The next day of the cultural forum ended with a large joint concert of the masters of arts of Lebap and Mary velayats, the venue of which was Türkmeniń ak öýi building. Audience awarded by stormy applause the artists who performed folk and modern melodies, songs, incendiary dances.