Significant dates, national holidays and international events widely marked in our fatherland in the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State testify to successful development of the cultural sphere.
One should note that Turkmen people possess invaluable historical and cultural values, which have been generally recognised. Inclusion of the collection of Magtymguly manuscripts in the International Register of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program and the 300th birthday anniversary of the poet in the List of significant dates for joint celebration with UNESCO in 2024–2025 attest to this fact.
In the current year, the motto of which is «The Fount of wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi», conferences, «round tables», creative meetings, exhibitions and concerts are held all over the country and abroad on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of the outstanding poet and thinker of the East.
The goal of events – facilitation of further popularisation of the literary legacy of Fragi, deepening of scientific researches in this area, attraction of attention of the international public to the poetic and philosophical world of the great Turkmen classic. His immortal poems, humanistic views have made a huge impact not only on the life of Turkmen in XVIII - XIX centuries, but also on all people of the East.
So, on February 18, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country hosted the international conference «Magtymguly Fragi’s Concept of Peace and the Diplomacy of Neutral Turkmenistan».
As participants of the forum marked, the civic position of the poet was based on respect for other people, good neighbourhood, democracy and patriotism.
Namely these principles made up a basis of neutrality of Turkmenistan and continue to be a source of wisdom, continuity and topicality of diplomacy of our country that is called as civilisation dialogue. Today, one can say that Magtymguly was the outstanding diplomat as the foreign policy of our fatherland is continuation of ideas of the glorified poet and thinker, his view of peace and the role of Turkmen people in it.
As speakers underlined, this year it is planned to hold a number of international events on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of Fragi. Friendly countries are ready to bring their contribution to their organisation and to take an active part in them.
Besides it, in May, the capital hotel "Ýyldyz" hosted the international conference at the level of ministers of culture of foreign states, devoted to the 300th birthday anniversary of the great poet and thinker of the East Magtymguly.
The forum became one of the key events of the year «The Fount of wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi». Heads and representatives of authoritative international organisations, including the International Organisation of Turkic culture (TURKSOY), Economic Cooperation Organizations (ECO),Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shen Yueyue as well as delegations from a number of foreign countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Iran, Qatar, China, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Turkiye and Japan took part in it.
Besides it, the opening of the monument to the outstanding poet and a new cultural-park complex «Magtymguly Pyragy» took place on May 17 in the southern part of the capital. The given significant event serves a kind of prologue to the celebrations of 2024, which are held both in Turkmenistan and abroad within the events devoted to the birthday anniversary of the great thinker and poet Magtymguly, who with his immortal works and name have been already glorified Turkmens for three hundred years.
As known, the initiator of creation of a cultural-park complex, in the centre of which a majestic monument to the classic of Turkmen and world literature was erected in the picturesque foothills of the Kopet Dagh is Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov who underlines a significant role of Fragi in the historical, political and cultural life of the nation.
The Week of culture held in the year «The Fount of wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi» in Arkadag city has a special significance among large-scale events. Traditionally timed to Day of workers of art and culture widely marked in our fatherland as well as poetry of Magtymguly Fragi, it is aimed at encouragement of professional growth of creative figures, search of new talents, and increase of cultural level of population.
The «round table» on the theme «Söz ussady Magtymguly Pyragy» devoted to the birthday anniversary of the poet and thinker took place on August 5 of the current year in Ashgabat. The given event once again confirmed that personality of Magtymguly is one of the most attractive for scientists - literary critics, culture experts, both national and foreign historians. The great attention was given to such aspect as influence of creativity of the great master of poetry on development of literature of people of the East.
It was pointed out that Magtymguly Fragi had opened a new page and had enriched poetry with national forms of artistic expressiveness and progressive ideas of time.
Participants of the event made an emphasis that, having cleared the literary style of various extraneous features and foreign expression adopted in those days, Magtymguly developed his poetic language into the live spoken language. His poems are deeply enriched with the spirit and stylistics of folklore creativity, therefore they were immediately perceived by people.
On August 7, the Turkmen capital hosted the conference «Beýik Pyragynyň köňül isläni - synlaň bagt boýlaýan Türkmenistany». As its speakers marked, the greatest merit of Fragi before Turkmen people is his aspiration to national unity. Time has proved topicality of bright ideas of the poet dreaming of a sovereign state, and today happy future that Magtymguly dreamt, has become a reality.
During the new historical epoch, the authority and glory of independent neutral Turkmenistan as a country of peace and consent grow. Our people believe that in unity of which Fragi spoke is the peaceful and happy life of our society and they will be always grateful to the great poet for his far-sighted principles.
Magtymguly has left fine poetic heritage filled with wisdom and warm feelings. Amazingly deep thoughts in his wonderful poems, aimed at future, answer spiritual needs of not only Turkmen people, but also all international community. Significance of creativity of Magtymguly has gone beyond national frameworks and has become a worthy contribution to the intellectual treasury of humanity.
In the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, the glory of Magtymguly grows and his views enriched with life experience and philosophical thoughts by right become a spiritual basis of our modern society.
The concert «Magtymguly Pyragy - dünýäniň akyldary» organised on August 8 became an important event in the calendar of events of Dashoguz velayat.
Within the cultural program of the current month, the «round table» «Kalplara ruhy siňen Pyragy», «Pähim-paýhas ummany Magtymguly Pyragy», «Änew medeniýetiniň sungatdaky keşbi», creative meetings and exhibitions «Bagtyýar zamana buýsan, Pyragy!», «Döwrebap eserleriň sazlaşygy», «Magtymguly Pyragy - türkmeniň ruhy dünýäsiniň çeper keşbi» were held.
In works of the outstanding son of our people eternal universal values - love for one’s country, humanism, peaceful disposition, call to creation, friendship and brotherhood are expressed.
The poems of Magtymguly translated into many languages find response in the hearts of people in all corners of the planet. Monuments to the great Turkmen poet-classic were established in Russia, Turkiye, Iran, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and other countries.
Today, thanks to the progressive policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan strengthens its positions on the world scene as a peaceful and dynamically developing state and the richest national historical and cultural property becomes that brand, with which our country is discovered by the international community.
The program of festive events of the current year also includes events on the occasion of announcement of ancient city Anau as a cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024.
Anau played a wonderful role in the glorious history of Turkmen people. There historical and cultural monuments are concentrated. In 1904 on the mounds of Anau, extensive excavations were carried out and as a result, a great number of valuable data on agriculture, which obtained a great uplift in the eneolithic epoch, were discovered. During archaeological expeditions in the cultural layers of the to Copper-Stone Age fragments of walls of constructions, instruments of labour, pottery were unearthed. Among finds were also wheat grains «аk bugdaý». This fact served a basis for erection of the national museum «Ak bugdaý» in the city of Anau.
The archaeological culture of the eneolithic epoch was named Anau culture that made sensation in the world scientific community. In the middle of XX century, some more monuments of Anau culture were discovered. The uplift of the Anau fortress, which was located on the Great Silk road, was observed in the Middle Ages, and nowadays with the same scope the modern city of Anau which is systematically supplemented with objects of social infrastructure, also prospers.
As known, the decision on announcement of 2024 «Year of the great poet and thinker of the Turkic world - Magtymguly Fragi» and the ancient Turkmen city of Anau – as cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 was adopted in the city of Bursa of the Republic of Turkiye during the meeting of permanent council TURKSOY. It testifies to huge cultural potential of Turkmenistan and recognition of its efforts on advancement of international humanitarian initiatives.
On March 26, in the building «Türkmeniň аk öýi», located in the valley «Nowruz ýaýlasy» in Ak bugday etrap of Akhal velayat a solemn ceremony took place and events, which are planned to be held according to the honourable status delegated to the city of Anau were given a start.
The project «Cultural capital of the Turkic world» urged to open potential of culture of the Turkic people, to acquaint with their heritage. It assumes annual concentration of creative resources in various cities of Turkic speaking countries, creation of bright, rich and various palette of humanitarian actions, which are based on strong historically developed links and the dialogue proceeding today between unique cultures of sovereign states.
It is remarkable that Turkmenistan for the second time as the country of cultural capital of the Turkic world has had an opportunity to draw attention of scientific and creative world to the ancient history and rich national culture, to show modern achievements on the way of progressive development.
It is necessary to point out that a close connection established with TURKSOY thanks to the National Leader of the Turkmen people effectively develops under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The meeting of the Council of Elders of the Organization of the Turkic states held in Ashgabat in March of the current year also testifies to an active role of Turkmenistan in development of multilateral cooperation.
The international scientific conference «Ancient Anau culture» held on March 27 also became one of the main events on the margins of the festive program.
Besides it, on March 28, Ashgabat hosted the international media forum «The Turkmen land - the centre of ancient civilisations», timed to celebrations on the occasion of the honourable status of the city of Anau and the 300th birthday anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi.
Heads and representatives of local mass-media, leading news agencies, broadcasting companies, film associations, internet portals, newspapers and magazines from Great Britain, Hungary, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia of Moldova, Georgia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Russia, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, as well as such authoritative structures as the International Organisation of Turkic culture (TURKSOY), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Radio and Television Union of the Islamic Cooperation Organization, Union of News Agencies of IOS member countries (UNA) became participants of the event. Among delegates were professors from the Canadian University “HEC Montreal” and the University of Bahçeşehir (Türkiye).
On March 29, Arkadag city hosted the presentation of the book by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov «Anau - culture from the depths of millennia». New literary work of the head of the state is devoted to announcement of the ancient city of Anau as cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 and testifies to high international authority of our fatherland, recognition of a weighty contribution of Turkmen people to development of human civilisation.
Within the year «Anau - cultural capital of the Turkic world-2024», on May 16, the 10th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member states of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) was held in Ashgabat.
The main goal of the meeting was to identify new opportunities for joint cooperation between UNESCO and TURKSOY in the field of protection of historical, cultural, natural and written monuments of Turkic-speaking countries, as well as mutually beneficial joint efforts to ensure the inclusion of national heritage values in international lists.
Besides it, this month the exhibition «Taryhyň köklerine siňen gadymy mekan» will be held in Ashgabat.
Similar events allow to display the historical and cultural heritage of our country, centuries-old evidence of the highest culture of Turkmen people, who have brought a considerable contribution to the universal treasury.
Thanks to the progressive policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in independent neutral Turkmenistan in the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State effective measures are carried out for further development of the sphere of culture, deep study, careful preservation and popularisation of national heritage, including objects of history and culture in the world.
Thus, the events organized on the sidelines of celebration of the 300th birthday anniversary of the outstanding poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi and on the occasion of announcement of Anau city as cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 reflect a huge creative potential of national culture.
