Turkmen Melon Day celebrations

By tradition each second Sunday of August Turkmenistan honors Turkmen Melon symbolizing the everlasting generosity of and glory of the native land. The big festive programme including the scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events was prepared on this remarkable occasion. On these days the generous feasts and bright trade fairs were arranged throughout the country. As usual, the Turkmen Melon Day celebrations centred in the white-marble capital of Turkmenistan.

On August 9 there was very crowded at the Exhibition Centre in Ahsgabat that housed Turkmenagro-2008 International Exhibition. The wonderful gifts of the Turkmen land – a variety of fruits, vegetables, melons and gourds were exposed in the central hall of the Exhibition Centre. The visitors could taste different varieties of melons and talked to Turkmen melon growers and selectionists.

On August 10, National Park of Independence turned into the central arena for the festivities. The high-ranking officials of the Mejlis, the specialists of the ministries and departments, the representatives of the public organizations – members of the Galkynysh National Movement, the diplomats accredited to Turkmenistan, the cultural workers and artists, the journalists and students, the people and guests of the Turkmen capital gathered there. The best melon growers, scientists and breeders, who had profoundly contributed to the development of Turkmen melon growing, arrived in Ahsgabat to participate din the celebrations. The honorary guests of the festivities were the participants of Turkmenagro-2008 International Exhibition and Conference.

At the entrance to the Park the boys and girls dressed in the bright national costumes offered bread and salt inviting everyone to taste delicious food. The artists of the municipal theatres and the artistic group of the Turkmen Agricultural University prepared their presents on the remarkable occasion.

An open-air agricultural exposition was arranged in the Park. The exposition presented the samples of diverse varieties of melons and gourds, fruits and berries delivered there from different regions of Turkmenistan. The best samples of melons, watermelons and pumpkins grown by the winners of the contest Golden Melon Plantation of the Golden Age announced by the Food Industry Association occupied a special place in the exposition. The agro-industrial complexes and the enterprises of Turkmengallaonumlery Association presented a broad range of high-quality products. The films about the development of Turkmen food industry were demonstrated on the special monitors

Numerous people and guests of the Turkmen capital praised and rendered well-deserved homage to ‘paradise fruit’ and Turkmen melon growers. The best agricultural workers presented the achievements of breeding activities and the melon cultivation technique. An exposition of the national Turkmen viands – dried melon, syrup, etc was of particular interest to the visitors.

In the yurts the agricultural workers from all the regions of Turkmenistan treated everyone willing to the dishes of national cuisine peculiar to each region of the country. The amateur artists and dancing groups presented the performances at the concert stages in the Park. The sports competitions in the national kinds of sport as well were included in the programme of the Turkmen Melon Day celebrations.

The celebrations moved to the Ashgabat amphitheatre. The Address of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was presented to the participants of the celebrations. The Turkmen leader said that melon – a national property, pride of the Turkmen people. The President said, “The history shows that Turkmen melons were highly valued far away from Central Asia.” As is known almost 400 out of 1,600 varieties of melon registered by the world science are the elite varieties of Turkmen melons. Congratulating the people of Turkmenistan on the holiday Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished everyone good health, happiness and wellbeing.

The ceremony of awarding the best melon growers became the culmination of the celebrations. On behalf of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov the masters of rich harvests, scientists and selectionists received the diplomas and valuable presents.

The popular singers, the best folklore and dancing groups concluded the celebrations with a big concert.