October 22, 2010

1st International Ashyg Festival solemnly opened in Baku

The 1st International Ashyg Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Azerbaijan Ashygs Union due to support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation was solemnly opened, October 22.

Opening the event at the Heydar Aliyev Palace, Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev mentioned importance of the Festival bringing together ashygs from 8 countries - Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Dagestan.

 

The Minister noted the art of ashyg is one of the branches of the Azerbaijan folk literature with ancient history and rich traditions, talking of the governmental care to the sphere, honor titles awarded to ashygs, multilateral help to organize their concerts. We carry out new projects and events to revive this unique folk art under new conditions, use opportunities of the art of ashyg in esthetic education of people, to protect, develop and popularize it in the world as a unique national wealth, said A.Garayev.

 

Keeping devotion to national leader Heydar Aliyev’s sensitive attitude on the folk creativity, we do our best to develop and promote the art of ashyg in the world. Development of this art has entered today the new phase thanks to First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva. Inclusion of the art of ashyg in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following the art of mugham, is an obvious proof to this. 

 

The Minister said blessed by great ashyg Dede Gorgud, the art of ashyg contributed to the growth and improvement of master ashygs. Everyone knows by heart their goshma, gerayli and bayati. Poems and tales linked to names of Ashyg Gurbani, Tufarganly Abbas, Sary Ashyg, Kheste Gasym, Molla Juma, Ashyg Elesger, Huseyn Bozalganly, Mikayil Azafly, Ashyg Aly, Ashyg Shemshir are the fantastic samples of art today. We cannot be indifferent to such a wealth, which has influence on Azerbaijan’s written literature, contemporary composing, choreography.

 

By the traditions started by great leader Heydar Aliyev in the past 40 years, the Azerbaijani culture has been supported on the highest level. I think in this respect the workers of art in our country are happy. Because the tradition left by the national leader is firmly continued by President Ilham Aliyev. Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP, is the real model to our people how to set a high value to the cultural riches.

 

Mr Garayev mentioned participants of the Festival, which will be closed in Ganca City on October 27, will perform in regions of Azerbaijan.

 

According to him, the Festival that will be held every 2 years will enlarge its geography in the next years.

 

Video dedicated to the Azerbaijani art of ashyg was presented in the opening ceremony, delegates of participant countries were invited to the stage.

 

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Ashygs Union, People’s Poet Zelimkhan Yagub noted organized due to support of President Ilham Aliyev, the Festival will bring to popularization of our national art of ashyg in the world, lift its role in development of our culture, bring together ashygs of the countries impacted by the Azerbaijani art of ashyg.

 

He emphasized a huge support by President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva to the organization of the Festival in Azerbaijan.

 

Z.Yagub underlined the new horizons are opened before us and greater responsibility falls on us as this immortal art of our people takes its worthy place among the universal cultural riches. Hosted by Azerbaijan, this festival covers the entire Turkic world.

 

Representatives of the attending countries presented a concert in the ceremony.