Turkmenistan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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Film Festival

Film About Turkmen Poet Wins International Award in London

The film Magtymguly Pyragy, a collaborative production by filmmakers from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, has won the “Audience Recognition” award at the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) Film Festival 2025 in London. The movie tells the story of Magtymguly Pyragy, an 18th-century Turkmen poet and philosopher, focusing on his ideals of peace, love for the homeland, and aspirations for national awakening. The project was jointly produced by directors, actors, and creative teams from both countries. This collaboration has been widely praised as a powerful symbol of cultural dialogue and brotherhood. Viewers and jury members commended the film for its compelling visuals, immersive historical atmosphere, and the strong performances delivered by its cast. Organizers of the festival noted that the film goes beyond artistic achievement, serving as a cultural bridge that fosters mutual understanding and promotes universal values such as freedom, dignity, and humanity. The ECG Film Festival annually gathers filmmakers from over 20 countries to celebrate and promote cinema from the Eurasian region. In related celebrations, Turkmenistan hosted a summit of heads of government in October and a conference of culture ministers in May 2024 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Pyragy’s birth.

World Education Forum

Turkmenistan Participates in World Education Forum in London

On May 18, the Education World Forum, one of the largest global events dedicated to education, opened in London, bringing together ministers, deputy ministers, and senior representatives from over 100 countries. This year’s participants include a delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Minister of Education Azat Ataev. On the forum’s opening day, the Turkmen delegation met with representatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to discuss Turkmenistan’s potential involvement in international education initiatives, including the integration of PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) goals into the country’s national education strategy. The delegation also held talks with Times Higher Education (THE), a leading agency in global university rankings. Discussions focused on strategies to enhance the international standing of Turkmen universities and explored the organization of online seminars aimed at improving institutional rankings. Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom continue to strengthen their educational partnership. In 2023, British experts conducted a series of training sessions for Turkmen teachers focused on modern pedagogical practices, organized in cooperation with the British Embassy in Ashgabat. A cornerstone of this collaboration is the Chevening Scholarship Program, which supports Turkmen students pursuing graduate studies in the UK. For the 2024/25 academic year, 12 Turkmen citizens were awarded Chevening scholarships. The British Council is also actively engaged in education development projects in Turkmenistan. Through its Digital Learning program, the Council is working to advance the digitization of the national education system and expand access to modern learning tools.

Sports

Turkmenistan’s Arkadag Footballers Left Without Prize Money Despite AFC Victory

The recent triumph of Turkmenistan’s Arkadag football club in the AFC Challenge League, one of Asia’s most prestigious club competitions, has stirred controversy beyond the pitch. While the victory was widely celebrated, players were left without significant financial rewards, as over $1 million in prize money was donated to charity, prompting mixed reactions among fans and observers. The team was honored with a hero’s welcome in the newly constructed city of Arkadag, complete with fireworks and a celebratory parade. However, expectations of substantial bonuses went unmet. Each player received a symbolic $1,000 from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, a modest sum compared to their tournament earnings. The total prize purse for winning the competition and reaching the final reportedly exceeded $1.5 million. According to official statements, the athletes themselves requested that the funds be donated to the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Children. Despite their international success, the players reportedly earn official salaries of no more than $120 per month. Turkmen football remains largely cut off from global sporting networks, with few foreign players, limited match broadcasts, and minimal competitive depth in domestic leagues. Arkadag’s main rivals frequently field incomplete squads, diminishing the overall level of competition. Sports analysts and development experts warn that the lack of meaningful financial incentives could erode player morale and hinder the growth of football in Turkmenistan. They argue that while charitable contributions are commendable, sustained investment in athletes is essential to build a competitive and inspiring national sports culture.

May Day

May Day in Central Asia: From Soviet Parades to a Celebration of Unity

In Soviet times, May 1 and 2 were public holidays. May 1 was International Workers' Day, marked by large-scale parades celebrating the proletariat, while May 2 served as a day to recuperate before returning to work. Today, three of the five Central Asian republics have preserved the tradition of celebrating May Day, effectively marking the arrival of spring twice, once through Central Asian customs – Nauryz - and again through European ones. Workers of the world, unite! Coined by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in The Communist Manifesto, this famous communist slogan once appeared on the coats of arms of the Soviet Union and its republics. International Workers' Day became the living embodiment of this phrase. Celebrated on 1 May, May Day began as a European festival of spring but gained global significance through the labor movement. The Second International, formed at the 1889 International Workers Congress in Paris, called for an annual demonstration advocating an eight-hour workday. The date honors the U.S. general strike that started on 1 May 1886 and led to the tragic Haymarket massacre on 4 May. The date became a powerful symbol of working-class solidarity and a yearly tradition across large swathes of the globe. [caption id="attachment_31352" align="aligncenter" width="1174"] Soviet-era poster for International Workers' Day[/caption] Before the Bolsheviks came to power, political agitators in the Russian Empire used May 1 to call for change with slogans such as “Down with the Tsar” and “Give us freedom.” After the October Revolution, May 1 and 2 became official state holidays, with May Day becoming synonymous with International Workers' Day and mandatory parades. Unlike the more formal and solemn celebrations honoring the October Revolution, however, May Day events were often met with genuine enthusiasm. After the collapse The fall of the USSR brought about a widespread reevaluation of Soviet holidays. The celebration of the October Revolution on November 7 was widely discarded, but many post-Soviet republics retained May 1 as a public holiday, albeit with new interpretations and meanings. In Central Asia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan do not officially celebrate May 1. Turkmenistan has developed a distinct holiday calendar, while in Uzbekistan, May 1 is observed symbolically as the Day of Fountains. [caption id="attachment_31353" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Day of Fountains, Tashkent; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Though celebrations are more modest and it is no longer officially a day off, Tajikistan has retained the holiday’s Soviet-era name, International Workers’ Day. Some traditions, such as honoring outstanding workers, persist. Kyrgyzstan calls the holiday Labor Day, in line with its American equivalent. It is marked by festive events and activities organized by trade unions. Kazakhstan has taken a different approach, reimagining May Day as the Day of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan. The name reflects the country’s emphasis on stability and interethnic harmony, a model promoted by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, an institution established on March 1, 1995, at the initiative of the country’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Since 2016, March 1 has also been celebrated as Thanksgiving...

Easter Celebration

How Orthodox Christians Celebrate Easter in Central Asia and Around the World

In 2025, Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter on April 20. This central event in the Orthodox liturgical calendar is marked with solemnity and joy across Orthodox-majority countries such as Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and others. In Central Asia, Orthodox Christian communities also observe the holiday, maintaining centuries-old traditions despite being religious minorities. Kazakhstan On the night of April 20, Easter services will be held in all Orthodox churches across Kazakhstan. According to the Semirechensk Metropolitanate, the Holy Fire from Jerusalem will be brought to the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty, where Metropolitan Alexander will lead the liturgy and Easter procession. The service will begin at 23:30 and will be broadcast live on the Metropolitanate's official YouTube channel. A ceremonial arrival of the Holy Fire is scheduled for 17:00 on Easter Sunday at the cathedral. Uzbekistan In Uzbekistan, the focal point of Easter celebrations is the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Tashkent. Each year, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan brings the Holy Fire from Jerusalem. In 2024, he celebrated Easter Matins with Bishop Savvatiy of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan. Earlier that year, Vikenty made another pilgrimage to the Holy Land to receive the flame. Tajikistan In Dushanbe, Easter is traditionally celebrated at St. Nicholas Cathedral. In 2024, dozens of worshipers, including members of the Russian diplomatic mission and the ambassador, attended the festive liturgy. Following the service, a traditional procession took place, and parishioners received blessings along with kulich (traditional Easter bread) and other Easter treats. Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is home to approximately 485,000 Orthodox Christians, around 9% of the population. The Russian Orthodox Church operates through 12 churches organized under a Patriarchal benefice. While official celebrations are relatively modest, traditional Easter practices are still observed, particularly in urban centers. Russia In Russia, Easter remains the most significant church holiday. Services begin on Saturday evening with a midnight vigil, followed by festive Matins and the Divine Liturgy. The faithful greet one another with “Christ is risen!” and respond “Truly risen!” In the morning, families gather around tables adorned with kulichi, paskha (a cheese dessert), and colored eggs, which are traditionally used for “egg battles.” Easter Traditions Worldwide Because Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar and most Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar, Easter dates typically differ. However, in 2025, both calendars align, and Easter will be celebrated on the same day. Traditions vary widely around the world. In Poland, congregants bring willow branches and blessed food to churches, and festivities continue with "Wet Monday," a water-splashing custom. Bulgarians dye eggs and enjoy family feasts. In Greece, fireworks mark the midnight celebration, and tables are filled with magiritsa soup and roast lamb. In France and Germany, the Easter bunny and chocolate eggs dominate the holiday. Italians serve colomba cakes and lamb dishes, while the British favor hot cross buns and organize egg hunts. In Spain and Poland, dyed eggs are used for games and decoration. In Australia, Easter is celebrated with countryside festivals and egg hunts. Sweden observes a four-day holiday beginning on...

Healthcare

Central Asia Launches Joint Initiative to Eliminate Tuberculosis by 2030

All five Central Asian nations have launched a regional campaign titled “Central Asia Free of Tuberculosis” with the ambitious goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant strains, across the region by 2030, according to Turkmenportal. The initiative is led by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and supported by international health organizations. Health ministers and senior officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convened in Astana to formally launch the campaign and sign a joint declaration. The agreement outlines commitments to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Stop TB Partnership, the Global Fund, civil society organizations, and other partners. Over the past decade, the five countries have made significant strides in combating TB through the introduction of new treatments and improved disease surveillance systems. The new initiative aims to accelerate these efforts toward total eradication. Key Objectives of the Initiative Include: Testing Coverage: Ensure that at least 95% of all new and recurrent TB cases are diagnosed using rapid WHO-recommended diagnostic tools, which are already in place across the region. Treatment Expansion: Broaden access to shorter, injection-free treatments for drug-resistant TB, which have demonstrated success rates of over 85%. Vaccine Preparedness: Prepare national health systems for the rollout of new TB vaccines once they become available. Primary Healthcare Integration: Incorporate TB diagnosis and treatment into each country’s primary healthcare system, with support from WHO’s Primary Health Care Centre in Almaty. WHO Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge commended the political leadership demonstrated by the Central Asian governments. He emphasized that the region is now closer than ever to achieving TB elimination but must sustain its commitment through continued investments and stigma-reduction efforts to ensure equitable access to care. The regional strategy is expected to yield significant results by 2027 and will serve as a framework for monitoring and accelerating progress toward TB elimination in Central Asia.