Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 11 July, an International Festival of Folk Music “Buyuk Ipak Yuli” (“The Great Silk Road”) started in Erkin Vokhidov Park in Margilan.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov delivered a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the event. Greeting the guests and participants of the festival, A. Abdukhakimov stressed that today the government of Uzbekistan pays great attention to preserving the intangible cultural heritage of our country, in particular the development and widespread propaganda of folklore art.

“The purpose of today’s festival is to see unique representatives of culture, to popularize, preserve and nurture a love for art and for one’s own history among the younger generation. Strengthen friendly ties, expand cooperation and interaction in the field of creativity in the international arena,” Abdukhakimov said.

The rich program of the festival included a solemn concert at which talented folklore groups from 20 countries of the world demonstrated their skills in songs and dances. The Great Silk Road Festival is being held in Uzbekistan for the first time on the initiative of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in order to popularize, preserve, study folk art, encourage talented performers of folk art, instill love and respect in the younger generation for Uzbekistan’s rich artistic and aesthetic heritage, and promotion of intercultural and inter-ethnic cooperation through the exchange of national culture and art.

Within the framework of the program of the event, scientific and creative conferences, seminars, round tables, exhibitions, performances of folklore ensembles and solo performers will be held. At the end of the event, the best music and dance groups will be awarded cash prizes in the amount of 3,500, 2,500 and 1,500 US dollars.