“A tablecloth is spread out for a festive event…” This famous line from Magtymguly Fraghi’s poem “The Future of Turkmenistan” very accurately conveys the atmosphere of the large-scale celebration that took place in Turkmenistan in honor of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great humanist poet, the exponent of wisdom and aspirations of the Turkmen people.
The festive events included premieres of theater performances, movies and television films, the release of new publications dedicated to the life, philosophical and literary heritage of the poet. The National Music and Drama Theater named after Magtymguly presented a new reading of an opera production based on a classical musical composition – opera “Magtymguly” by composer Yuli Meitus.
The poet’s birthday anniversary and related colorful and informative events inspired cultural figures and representatives of different kinds of art for creation of artistic dedications to the great master of words, including new musical compositions, magnificent carpet works, as well as works by masters of brush and canvas, jewelers and artisans.
Last spring marked the culmination of the anniversary festivities. This period of the year is known for accumulation of the creative power of the society. The national holidays celebrated in spring, such as Constitution and State Flag Day, Turkmen Carpet Festival, Ashgabat City Day were also held on the poetic note of Magtymguly Fraghi’s birthday anniversary.
The opening ceremony of the new cultural park complex “Magtymguly Fraghi” and the grand monument to the classic of Turkmen literature were undoubtedly the central and long-awaited event. It towers above Ashgabat as a monument not only to the poet but the entire Turkmen people, whose life philosophy invariably matches the humanistic ideals of Magtymguly. The majestic sculpture of the oriental thinker – classic poet was erected on a natural hill in the picturesque foothills of Kopetdag. The height of the monument is 60 meters, and the height of the pedestal is 25 meters.
The very opening ceremony of the cultural park complex and the majestic monument to Magtymguly was arranged as a large-scale theatrical event with an inherent costume performances, live music and artistic accompaniment. All kinds of arts were combined in this performance-dedication. All representatives of those arts gathered on a May evening in a marvellous corner in the south of the Turkmen capital.
The celebration kicked off with the choreographic number “Friendship of Nations”, symbolizing unity, brotherhood and good neighbourliness of nations that the great poet and thinker Magtymguly Fraghi called for in his immortal works. The dancers performed in national costumes of the peoples of those countries whose outstanding personalities appeared in sculptural images on the alley of the new park.
As is known, the cultural park complex features 24 sculptures – monuments to famous poets, prose writers and thinkers from different countries and eras, including Sayat-Nova, Yanka Kupala, Du Fu, Honore de Balzac, Shota Rustaveli, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sandor Petofi, Rabindranath Tagore, Hafiz Shirazi, Dante Alighieri, Yasunari Kawabata, Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, Chingiz Aitmatov, Raja Ali Haji, Adam Mickiewicz, Mihai Eminescu, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Juan Jimenez, Sayido Nasafi, Yunus Emre, Grigory Skovoroda, William Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Alisher Navoi.
The performances by folklore and theatre groups from all over the country, bakhshi musicians, popular choreographic ensembles, young violinists and vocalists and pop stars of the Turkmen variety art became the highlight of the celebration. The magnificent numbers that were presented as mini bright performances as well as folklore performances reflected the unique traditions and festive customs of the Turkmen people. Not only the alleys of the park but also the wide steps leading to the majestic monument were used as performance venues.
Master and young painters worked in the park alleys. The verses by Magtymguly Fraghi and songs on these verses were heard everywhere. They filled the park ensemble with the enchanting music of poetry. Numerous events of this festival of arts were spectacular and informative, testifying to the continuity of the creative process.
The special significance of the celebration was emphasized by participation of distinguished guests. Opening the ceremony, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted in his speech the historical significance of the event held on the eve of Constitution and State Flag Day of Turkmenistan that brought together numerous foreign guests in Ashgabat.
Indeed, representatives of different countries and international organizations came to the grandiose celebration in honor of the poet’s birth anniversary, including ambassadors of different countries accredited in Turkmenistan, delegates of international conferences held these days in the Turkmen capital. And, of course, among the many participants of the celebration there were honorary elders, well-known cultural figures, without whom no significant event in the life of the country takes place. This bright celebration captured the unbreakable connection of times and generations, demonstrating in its entirety the beauty and originality of the Turkmen culture rooted in the depths of millennia.
The Ashgabat residents and guests of the capital laid flowers at the monument to the poet. And then the participants of the celebration became spectators of the original light show that colored the monument, its foot and mountain ranges in bright colors. The performance ended with large-scale fireworks that lasted more than 20 minutes.
The international conference at the level of ministers of culture of foreign countries and the international scientific conference «The Fount of Wisdom of Magtymguly Fraghi” held in May as part of the events on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly played an important role in the in-depth study of the literary and philosophical heritage of the master of the artistic word and the study of relationships between the languages and literatures of the peoples of the East.
The two-day international conference at the level of ministers of culture deserves to be called one of the key events of the jubilee year. Its delegates included heads and representatives of well-known international organizations such as the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as delegations from a number of countries from near and far abroad, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Iran, Qatar, China, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Turkey, Japan and others.
An exhibition presenting thematic publishing products, unique museum values, paintings and objects of decorative and applied art, reflecting the flavor and wealth of the cultural heritage of the Turkmen people, their history and distinctive traditions in all their diversity was timed to the forum. In his welcoming address to the participants of the international conference, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized its importance and expressed confidence that the forum would give a powerful impetus to the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of culture, deep study and wide popularization in the world of the rich literary heritage of Magtymguly Fraghi.
As speakers noted at the forum, the creative heritage of the genius poet, humanist and thinker Magtymguly Fraghi, who is rightfully considered the founder of Turkmen classical literature, has become an integral part of the world literature. In this regard, large-scale events dedicated to the memory of the unsurpassed master of the word on a planetary scale were held at the UN headquarters in New York (USA), UNESCO headquarters in Paris (France) and many other reputable international and regional structures. All this became convincing evidence of the international significance of the literary heritage of the outstanding Turkmen classical poet.
The “ministerial forum” in Ashgabat was split in four thematic sections dedicated to the life and work of Magtymguly Fraghi, his philosophical views, the role of the great poet in the world literature and culture, as well as popularization of his multifaceted heritage in the world.
Representatives of international scientific and cultural circles also talked about the legacy of the poet-philosopher at the international scientific conference «The Fount of Wisdom of Magtymguly Fraghi”. The conference was designed to deepen the comprehensive study and popularization of the rich and valuable literary heritage of the classic of Turkmen literature that is part of the golden treasure house of world literature, as well as the study of the relationship between the languages and literatures of the peoples of the East.
The forum was organized by the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan. It brought together representatives of science and specialists from many foreign countries along with the country’s scientific intelligentsia. The guests also included heads and representatives of UNESCO and TURKSOY. In their reports, the well-known scientists emphasized that the great philosopher and poet, who called for justice, peacefulness, love and aspiration for unity, has become a literary symbol uniting the entire world. The conference was held in the following thematic sections: «Magtymguly Fraghi and Universal Cultural Values», «Magtymguly and His Time», «Magtymguly and World Literature», «Magtymguly’s Manuscripts and Their Study», «Magtymguly – a Bridge of Friendship of Peoples».
Given the relevance of the topics and issues raised, the scientific hypotheses and new tasks, the international forums in Ashgabat achieved their main goal, uniting their participants with the spirit of high poetry.
Magtymguly’s birth anniversary set the tone and content of numerous events of the Culture Week that was held for the first time this year in the new city of Arkadag. The events marking the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fraghi’s birthday continue throughout the year, remaining a school of patriotic, moral and aesthetic education for Turkmen citizens and especially young people.