Category: Bukhara, Uzbekistan Festivals, Silk and Spices Festival
The old Bukhara let the spring go with the largest festival of the city “Silk and Spices” held from 28 May to 1 June. The festival has been held in this city for more than 10 years for the reason. Bukhara, that is more than 25 centuries old, had always been one of the key points on the route of the Great Silk Road. There were caravans from China, India, Iran, Caucasus and other countries flocked here.
The first guests arrived in Bukhara on 28 May, before the opening of the festival and could evaluate the scale of preparation: streets of the historical center were decorated and new sale points were added to trading rows. Merchants from other regions of Uzbekistan arrived to offer different hand-made pieces.
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In the morning of the 29 May, the opening of the “Silk and Spices” festival was held at the Ark fortress. Guests enjoyed performance of musicians, shows, followed with a big festive procession from the fortress to the Lyabi-Hauz complex where a welcoming concert was organized. The procession involved artists in national costumes, musicians and a la caravan that was comprised of camels loaded with goods and guards on horses.
Later, in the next few days, numerous master-classes of artisans from all regions of Uzbekistan were held. Guests of the festival could see the process of making knives, miniature painting, golden embroidery, carpet weaving and other crafts.
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Fans of cockfights, wrestling contests, folklore concerts of musical and dancing bands enjoyed performances all over the old city all days long.
In addition, conferences were held in Bukhara and in its surrounding, where issues of revival and development of national traditions, popularization of Uzbek crafts and other questions were discussed.
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Organizers of this grand event were National Company “Uzbektourism”, Association of handicrafts “Khunarmand” and the local authorities of the Bukhara city. Thanks to their efforts, the old town has become brighter and guests could dive into the world of medieval East. According to the tradition, the 14th festival of Silk and Spices rounded up with a gala folk concert on the square in front of the Mir-Arab Medrese and the Kalyan Mosque.
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