Days of Tajik Culture kick off in Minsk

MINSK, 28 April (BelTA) - The Palace of the Republic is hosting a gala concert by Tajikistan’s leading performers to mark the Days of Tajik Culture in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

The concert program features People's and Honored Performers of Tajikistan accompanied by the State Symphony Orchestra of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. The program includes both Tajik national melodies and well-known world hits.

Belarusian Minister of Culture Marat Markov noted that the Days of Tajik Culture are a landmark event in the cultural life of the two countries. “We are hosting reliable partners and very good friends in Minsk today. The development of broad humanitarian contacts between our states has become possible thanks to the strengthening of political ties and the personal friendship of our presidents. As Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has emphasized, the willingness of both sides to strengthen partnership and expand contacts is exactly what has given Belarusian-Tajik cooperation its special status as a strategic partnership,” he said.

Marat Markov drew attention to the growing importance of cultural diplomacy.

“During these April days, Belarusians have the opportunity to learn more about Tajik culture and art, and to discover new names. On 27 April, an exhibition of Tajik art opened at the National Library, while Tajik Cinema Days are taking place at the Pobeda movie theater in Minsk. And on 28 April, leading performers of Tajikistan will take the stage here. Without any doubt, events of this kind and scale help bring our two nations closer together,” Marat Markov said.

Tajikistan’s Culture Minister Matlubakhon Sattoriyon noted that relations between Belarus and Tajikistan have always been built on mutually beneficial and equal partnership and have generally developed successfully in the political, economic and other spheres.

“Remarkably, it is in the cultural sphere that ties between our countries are becoming increasingly visible, extensive and close. In recent years, Tajikistan and Belarus have intensified their artistic exchanges, with the main forms of cooperation being tours and joint creative events tied to holidays and anniversaries. The dynamics of this exchange constantly show growth and new forms of interaction. Culture is a living fabric, a road to the soul, a bridge connecting countries and continents. The holding of the Days of Tajik Culture is vivid proof of this, a joy of meeting and an anticipation of a miracle,” Matlubakhon Sattoriyon said.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to Belarus Bakhtovar Safarzoda said that the embassy had also prepared events dedicated to Navruz, the Tajik New Year, which begins on 21 March. “This holiday is over 6,000 years old. And today, 128 representatives of the arts and cinema, various soloists, and a symphony orchestra are taking part in the concert at the Palace of the Republic. What is conveyed through cultural cooperation goes from people to people,” he said.

Olimjon Solizoda, Director of the State Symphony Orchestra of the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan, emphasized: “We are very happy to be at such a wonderful celebration. Art is a bridge that brings peoples closer together. In 2024, Belarusian performers were in Tajikistan, wonderful performers, and their visit will be long remembered by Tajik audiences. Today we have prepared our national, colorful melodies, in which our centuries-old art is combined with symphonic music. Lovers of this genre will be surprised to see how they blend. The program also features beautiful dances, Belarusian songs, and classical music, we have amazing opera singers.”

Daler Rakhmatov, the director of the film Life is Beautiful, which was shown on 27 April at the Pobeda movie theater as part of the Days of Tajik Culture, repeatedly expressed his love for Belarus and also joined today’s event. “We brought three films, and on 27 April we showed one of them for the first time. Your audience is so warm and sincere! I was so touched: both adults and young people came up to me, asked questions, expressed gratitude. I haven’t seen that in a long time. My grandfather was a paratrooper during the Great Patriotic War. He was dropped behind enemy lines in Belarus, shot down by the Nazis, and lay unconscious in a swamp for several days. Elderly people pulled him out, even though they could have been killed for it, and nursed him back to health. He fought here until the liberation of Belarus. He did not live long, but my mother instilled in me from childhood what a brave and honest people live here. And now I have seen it for myself. We share the same values,” he said.

Photos by Ramil Nasibulin