Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 16 June, a grand opening of the XX traditional international festival "Silk and Spices" took place in the city of Bukhara.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, together with the khokimiyats of Bukhara region and the city, the regional department of culture and tourism, the Hunarmand Association and a number of other organizations.

The event is attended by foreign cultural and art figures, representatives of international organizations and the diplomatic corps, tour operators, as well as media representatives.

The festival was attended by representatives of the embassies of such countries as Slovakia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Kuwait, and Qatar.

In the early morning, accompanied by national songs and dances, the parade called “The Caravan of Miracles” set off from the Ark fortress along the narrow streets of the pearl of the East to the Lyabi-Khauz architectural ensemble.

Traditionally, the program of the event included performances by folklore groups, an exhibition of national and foreign crafts, and, of course, trade in spices and silk products.

More than 200 artisans from Andijan, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Namangan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Khorezm, Fergana, Tashkent region, Tashkent city and foreign countries took part in the event.

Also, within the framework of the festival "Silk and Spices", a master class was organized by the artist Hikmet Barutchugil, which took place at the Center for Applied Arts "Ustoz Shogird". The participants were shown the ancient technique of drawing on the surface of the water "Ebru".

Ebru is an ancient traditional art form in Turkey, and Hikmet Barutçugil noted that the technique has its roots in majestic Bukhara.

Hikmet Barutchugil’s work is featured in museums around the world, including the British Museum. Today, the artist Hikmet Barutchugil is considered the creator of a new direction in ebru. The master notes that perseverance and patience are necessary to work in this technique.

The annual festival "Silk and Spices" attracts a huge number of guests from all over the world, revealing Uzbekistan from the cultural side. This year the festival will run until 18 June 2023.