Kokand, Uzbekistan, hosted the grand opening of the Second International Festival of Handicrafts and the International Pottery Forum in Rishtan district.

Beautiful Kokand, located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, attracts the attention of the world community with its combination of traditional oriental sophistication and modernity. No wonder the epithet “elegant” was assigned to it.

Handicraft, which is an integral part of the daily life of the Uzbek people, in particular, wood and ganch carving, pottery, production of silk and finest fabrics, production of musical instruments, metal engraving, embroidery of skullcaps, has a thousand-year history. Products made by Uzbek artisans are kept in many famous museums around the world, which indicates that they play an essential role in the history of the peoples of the world and civilization.

Talented artisans and their followers, working in various areas of art, are respectfully called “usta” (master) by the people.

The art of national handicrafts is rapidly developing in Uzbekistan. Fergana region, which is its center, is famous worldwide for its fabrics from Margilan atlas and adras, the pottery art of Rishtan, and the schools of wood carving. In Margilan and adjacent areas, about three thousand families are engaged in carpet weaving, textile production, national costumes, and shoes. In Rishtan district, more than five thousand families master traditional pottery. In Kokand and surrounding areas, about 10 thousand families are engaged in wood carving, gold embroidery, and other crafts. Thousands of new jobs are created in this area every year.

Over the past two years, 21 modern Crafts Centers have been built in cities and districts of Fergana region, embodying the “master-apprentice” tradition. In Rishtan district, four centers for artisans specializing in pottery were erected, and two mahallas of potters were created.

Today, handicrafts have a firm place in the daily life of Uzbekistan people. The International Festival of Handicrafts opens up great opportunities for sphere representatives.

Urda Square in Kokand is especially lively and beautiful today. Thousands of eyes are directed at the amphitheater built in the center of the square, decorated in accordance with the spirit of the festival. The joy on the faces of the people gathered for the opening ceremony seems to be transmitted from heart to heart.

The head of the Social Development Department of the Presidential Administration Odil Abdurakhmanov read out the congratulatory message of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the participants of the international festival.

President of the World Crafts Council Saad Al-Qaddumi noted that Uzbekistan pays special attention to the development of culture and art and support for handicrafts and especially emphasized that this international festival is the best example of this.

Residents of Fergana region rejoice at the holding of this event in the city of Kokand. The holiday has acquired a wide scale. Representatives from 70 countries are participating in it – artisans and craftsmen, prominent figures in science, culture, and art, and representatives of authoritative international organizations.

In 2019, at the First International Festival of Handicrafts, Kokand was awarded the status of a World Craft City. Since ancient times, it has been one of the cultural centers. Various areas of handicraft and folk art, passed on from generation to generation, were highly developed here. In modern Kokand, such types of crafts as wood carving, paper making, embossing, and jewelry flourish.

It should be noted that 570 craftsmen from 78 countries and more than 1,000 domestic craftsmen from 14 regions of the country took part in the First International Festival of Handicrafts. More than a million guests and foreign tourists came to the event. Thanks to this event, the flow of tourists increased 10 times, the number of artisans – 3.5 times, and the number of hotels – 2.5 times.

The International Pottery Forum will also be held in Rishtan district. On the first day of the event, a scientific and practical conference was organized with the participation of foreign and domestic representatives on “World practice in the preservation and development of traditional arts and crafts”.

The festival will include several events, including an exhibition-fair of products of domestic and foreign artisans, press conferences on the festival, ethnic fashion shows, folk festivals, performances of puppet theaters and tightrope walkers, concert programs of regional folklore groups and cultural departments, pilaf competitions, a trip to the city of Rishtan and Furkat district.

The solemn ceremony was continued by soulful and lively songs of masters of art and young performers of the country. The fireworks in the night sky of Kokand filled hearts with joy and fun.

The festival is a celebration not only of Uzbekistan’s multinational people, but also of artisans worldwide.

Masudjon Sulaymonov, UzA