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Discovering ancient treasures of Great Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva

Discovering ancient treasures of Great Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva

Lieu: 
United Nations Plaza

"Discovering Ancient Treasures of the Great Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva" presentation held at UN Plaza in New York City was organized by the Fund Forum with assistance from the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the UN.

The presentation, which was attended by over 100 officials of missions at UN along with experts from the US, Russia and China, included a celebration of Navruz as an international UN holiday.

During the presentation at UN Plaza those gathered had the opportunity to watch a video about Uzbekistan's ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva that were among the historical Silk Road's major spots, as well as the architectural monuments in those cities. Also organized was a reception which enabled the guests to sample Uzbek culinary delights.

Professor Parviz Morwedge, Director, Global Scholarly Publications (New York): "I have visited Uzbekistan many times and I have often been invited to Uzbek events organized in New York, and each time I discover something new. There have been more Uzbek culture and art events in New York since the Fund Forum representative office was opened here. Cultural interaction plays an essential role in strengthening diplomatic links and international relations. In this regard, the Fund Forum sets a good example to many countries worldwide."

The attendees highly appreciated the ancient traditions and customs of the Uzbek nations as well as the ways that Navruz is celebrated and the main dish sumalak is prepared.

A. Corbitt, head of an NGO (New York): "I have traveled extensively around the world as a tourist. This event demonstrates the rich historical, cultural and spiritual legacy of the Uzbek nation and it has made me review my vacation plans. I was amazed by what I saw at the presentation. And I think Samarkand is a must-visit destination. From the historical viewpoint, it is there that most of global culture originated".

"This land was the center of many empires that propagated tolerance in international relations and economy while each region was entitled to speak its own language, and observe its religious rites. Therefore I think that the tolerance we need so much today globally may be borrowed from the history of Uzbekistan."

As is known, in antiquity people who lived in the Orient, in Central Asia, celebrated a new year on 21 March, the day of spring equinox, now known as Navruz. In Uzbekistan, it has been enriched based on the local traditions and customs. Navruz is an invaluable part of the intangible heritage left by our forefathers whose lives were inextricably linked with earth, water, the sun and trees and for whom the advent of the spring signified the beginning of the eternal cycle of plowing land, dewing crops, growing and harvesting.

In 2009, UNESCO included Navruz in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On 21 March that year, Navruz was proclaimed an international holiday. In 2010, the UN General Assembly recognized Navruz as an international holiday. According to the preamble of the resolution on the International Day (document A/64/L.30/Rev.2), Navruz, which means new day, is celebrated on 21 March, the day of the vernal equinox, by more than 300 million people worldwide as the beginning of the new year.

It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions. The Assembly called on Member States that celebrate the festival to study its history and traditions with a view to disseminating that knowledge among the international community and organizing annual commemoration events.