was held on a grand scale under the auspices of the French Embassy in our country and the French Institute in Turkmenistan (FIT). A series of various events was held on the occasion of national French holidays and a significant date for Turkmenistan and France - the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

One of the main solemn events was the opening of the Nadar Gallery exhibition space at FIT, which was another evidence of the historically established friendly relations between our countries. This event illuminated the pages of the general history in the field of fine arts. In 1890, the Parisian photographer Paul Nadar, whose studio was crowded with famous personalities of the late 19th century, crossed the territory of Turkmenistan by rail, from the Caspian Sea to the Amu Darya.

During his stay in Turkmenistan, admiring and deeply touched by what he saw, the French traveler created a rich collection of photographs called "Paul Nadar in Turkestan", which included about a thousand pictures and immortalized fragments of his meeting with an amazing and fabulous country. The famous series of photographs is now carefully kept in the French Heritage Mediatheque and is one of the symbols of the centuries-old ties of friendship and cultural relations that linked Turkmenistan and France.

Everyone, residents and guests of the capital, is invited to admire the photographs of Paul Nadar at the address: 69 Aga Garryev St. (former Sokolovskaya St.), tel.: 36 83 70 / 36 83 71 / 36 83 72. The exhibition is open to visitors until September, daily from 9:00 to 20:00, admission is free.

In July, FIT also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Music Festival, established in 1982 at the initiative of the French Ministry of Culture. Over the years of its existence, this holiday has gained wide popularity and today is celebrated in many countries around the world.

Free music concerts were organized at the FIT, with the main open-air stage on the adjacent territory of the cultural and educational center and a small stage inside the building.

A rich musical program pleasantly surprised the audience with a wide variety of genres: classical, pop and traditional folk music, opera, pop and much more. More than four dozen performers performed for the audience of music lovers, including professionals and amateurs, adults and children.

As part of the celebration, a vernissage of a collective exhibition of Turkmen artists and sculptors on the theme of music was also held.

Another cultural event has become a vivid demonstration in support of friendship and cohesion of the peoples of the world, which is invariably initiated by Turkmenistan in the context of international relations. A big friendly reception in honor of the National holiday of France - Bastille Day was organized in the Yildiz hotel in the capital.

It was attended by representatives of the United Nations in our country, diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, as well as French teachers from a number of Turkmen universities, the media and other numerous guests.

The spectacular moment of the holiday was the fashion show, presented by the fashion designer and teacher of the Higher School of Fashion in Paris, Govher Guverne-Pirkulyeva. The fashion show was accompanied by baroque music played at the evening in a live performance by the orchestra. In unison, outfits from the designer's collection were presented, created based on baroque, but in a modern vision using Turkmen-made velvet. Gorgeous outfits deeply impressed the guests, thanks to the subtlety of handicraft, graceful and harmonious combination of colors, elegance and restraint.

At the suggestion of the designer, the representatives of the fair sex from the invited embassies of different countries and the UN acted as models. Thus, this show demonstrated not only beautiful outfits, but also symbolized the universal desire of the peoples of the world for friendship and mutual understanding.

The celebration continued with incendiary dances in the Baroque style with the participation of professional dancers, models and guests. The summer July evening, cheerful, noisy and smart, gave everyone present a lot of pleasant impressions, joyful moments and positive emotions.