Participants in the celebrations on the occasion of declaring the city of Anev the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024, which took place on the 26th of March in the «Nowruz ýaýlasy» valley, were presented with traditional Turkmen crafts, among which the ancient art of felting occupies a special place.
Turkmen craftswomen in bright national costumes clearly demonstrated the process of making a felt mat - a rectangular felt carpet with ancient patterns - from beating wool to laying out the pattern. The use of a reed mat as the main equipment for making felt felt was also demonstrated here.
As domestic researchers note, the harmonious combination of ornaments from simple to complex with deep meaning and a variety of colors on the surface of the felt, the method of placing the pattern, the variety of types of ornaments and their symbolic meaning attract the attention of foreign scientists. Polish professor Irena Turnau in her book «The Art of Felting in Europe and Asia» writes the following about the Turkmen felt carpet»: The floral pattern of the felt carpet, which the Turkmen call «keçe», is prepared in this traditional way.
For example, a real field of wool with a floral pattern - many plant patterns on the surface, including designs in the form of twisted lines, a diamond, or ram's horns with double-sided twisted lines and a brown border. The most common colours of felt are dark red, brown and natural wool colours - from gray to black. The colours are truly amazing. «Felts are thick and durable and can last up to fifty years».
The tradition of making patterned felt felts is widespread throughout Turkmenistan. While preserving the technique of the ancient craft and the way of creating patterns, Turkmen craftswomen strive to enrich it with new ornaments. The originality of the art of felting, which has come down from time immemorial, and the symbolic meaning of the ornaments and signs used in this process, associated with the history and traditions of the people, make it a valuable part of the national cultural heritage. The interest that foreign guests showed in this ancient craft of the large ethnographic festival in the valley «Nowruz ýaýlasy» once again showed that it is worthy of being included in the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List.
The President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov spoke about this when speaking at the Dovlet Maslahaty in September 2022. Emphasizing that the popularization of cultural heritage is among the priorities of the country’s cultural diplomacy, the head of state noted the importance of preparing such nominations as «The Art of Breeding Turkmen Alabays», «The Art of Turkmen Felting», «Turkmen Blacksmithing», «Turkmen Tazy Hound Dogs and the Art of Hunting birds», «National Turkmen Goresh» for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
