Each people of the world has its own unique traditions and customs, literature and music. All this forms the culture of the country. The original and vibrant culture of Uzbekistan, which has been formed over millennia, is noteworthy. It has incorporated all the customs and traditions of all the peoples that once inhabited the territory of a modern country.
Cultural diversity
For many centuries, the ancient Greeks, Iranians, Turkic tribes of nomads, Russians, Chinese and Arabs contributed to the culture of Uzbekistan. The country can be safely called multinational, which is reflected in music, painting, dancing, arts and crafts, clothing, cuisine and language. Residents of Uzbekistan highly respect traditions, especially for rural residents.
The Great Silk Road had a huge impact on the culture of Uzbekistan. The trade route ran from China in several directions:
- the first - to the Kazakh steppes and Ferghana,
- the second - to the Middle East, to India and to the Mediterranean Sea.
Thanks to the Silk Road, not only active trade was going on, but also technologies, ideas, languages and religions were transferred. In this way, the spread of Buddhism in the lands of Central Asia. Monuments of Buddhist culture are still preserved along the route of the route: Fayaz-Tepe in Uzbekistan, the Kuve temple in the Ferghana Valley, Ajina-Tepa in the lands of Tajikistan.
Uzbek music was also formed under the influence of foreign cultures. Musicians and their instruments traveled with caravans. Gradually spread knowledge on the manufacture of paper and stamping all kinds of iron products from one country to another. Obtaining independence in 1991 contributed to a surge in the revival of customs and traditions, and the further development of folk craft.
art
The culture of Uzbekistan is unthinkable without art. Oriental masters have long been famous for their artistic talent, which was reflected in the decoration and decoration of magnificent palaces, mausoleums and other religious buildings.
The main motives of Uzbek creativity are calligraphy, patterns and ornaments. Since Islamic traditions forbid portraying people and animals, the masters began to develop more abstract trends, bringing them to perfection. Subsequently, such a direction of fine art as the Uzbek miniature appeared. Artists created small, but very bright pictures that varnished. They were used to decorate the interiors of palaces or homes of wealthy people.
During the reign of the Timurids (14-15th centuries), an unprecedented cultural upsurge occurred. An unprecedented flowering reached the painting of Uzbek artists. In Samarkand museums, elements of stunning landscape murals are still preserved. The palaces of Amir Temur at one time were decorated with picturesque panels that depicted the wives of the ruler, he himself, his sons and associates. It was during this period that the work of Kamoliddin Behzod, the great medieval artist, who is considered the unsurpassed master of oriental miniatures, was born.
A new take-off of art occurred at the beginning of the nineteenth century. At this time, the highest flowering of miniature art was observed, which is associated with the names of such masters as Abdulkhalik-Makhmum, Ahmad Donish (1827-1897) and others.
But Uzbek painting of the twentieth century was significantly influenced by Russian Wanderers. Their stunning works became the basis for the further development of the oriental school of landscapes and portraits, the development of the direction of realism in painting.
The works of modern masters can be seen in the Gallery of Fine Arts, which is the most modern exhibition hall in Tashkent, as well as in the Museum of Art, which is based on the collection, which was laid down by numerous works of European painting of the Grand Duke N. K. Romanov. Paintings of contemporaries are presented in other museums and art galleries of the country.
True connoisseurs of painting should definitely visit the Museum to them. Savitsky I.V. Within its walls there are more than 90, 000 exhibits, among which there are works by the Russian avant-garde, objects of fine Uzbek art, and applied works of Karakalpakstan and Ancient Khorezm.
Museums of the country
Currently, there are 110 museums in Uzbekistan, of which 98 are managed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Most of the establishments are located in Tashkent. Some very interesting museums are located in the tourist centers of the country, among which are Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. They can learn a lot about the traditions and customs of Uzbekistan.
One of the most famous museums in Asia is the Savitsky Museum of Art, which is located in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan. In recent decades, craft centers and art galleries, which promote classical and modern national art, as well as crafts, have become increasingly popular in Uzbekistan. Only in Tashkent alone there are about ten large art galleries in which exhibitions of fine art, folk art, antiques and other things that can be called the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan are regularly held. Similar establishments are opening in other large cities of the country: Samarkand, Khiva, Bukhara. They are popular not only with tourists, but also with local residents.
Craft centers of folk crafts represent the work of real, hereditary masters and artisans who, according to old technologies, manually produce silk carpets, ceramics, suzanne, accessories, jewelry, forged products, national clothes and more.
Literature
The basis for modern Uzbek literature has become a rich folklore. From time immemorial, people have invented and passed from mouth to mouth epics of heroic content, the main characters of which were heroes who fought against oppressors and oppressors, depicted as dark forces. So there were epic works: “Alpamysh” and “Ker-Ogly”. The poem "Alpamysh" talks about the heroism and courage of the Uzbek heroes. The work passed through centuries and became a monument of literature of the East.
No less famous is another folk work, represented by a cycle of tales and legends about Hajj Nasreddin - a witty and clever sly man who taught many lessons to rich people. In the eleventh century, many works were created, which were based on Islamic religious moral standards. It is worth recalling the instructive poem “Kugadu Bilig” by Yusuf Khas Hadzhib Balasaguni, “Gift of Truths” (Ahmad Yugnaki), “Dictionary of Turkic dialects” (Mahmud Kashgari).
Literature reached an unprecedented peak in the era of the Temurids during the reign of Amir Temur. Literature became popular because it began to be secular in nature, freed from unnecessary religiosity. At this time, the great representative of Uzbek writers and poets Alisher Navoi lived and worked, who is considered not only a classic of national literature, but also the founder of the Uzbek language. His great works “Hamsa” and “Chordevon” were included in the treasury of world literature. They were later translated into hundreds of languages.
It is also worth recalling the last ruler of the Timurids, who was the founder of the Mughal state in India, which lasted two hundred years, - Zakhkhiriddin Muhammed Babur. The great ruler was also a prominent poet of those times. In the poem "Baburname", describing his own biography, he outlined the history of the development of the peoples of Asia, India, Afghanistan. The work is a masterpiece of Uzbek literature.
In the 13-19th centuries, literary creations were lyrical in nature and were devoted mainly to love topics. Bright representatives of those years were Uvaysi, Nadira, Mashrab, Khorezmi and others.
In the 19-20th centuries after the accession of Turkestan to the Russian Empire, a new era of modern Uzbek literature began. Among the representatives of this period, it is worth highlighting the writer, satirist and poet Furkat and poet Mukimi.
Talents such as Hamza Khakimadze Niyazi, Sadriaddin Aini, the first novelist Abdul Kadyri, philosopher and writer Fitrat, whose literary traditions were continued by Gafur Gulyam, Oybek, Abdul Kahharom, Uygun and Hamid Alimjan, flourished in the Soviet era.
Throughout history, the wisdom of people has been reflected in Uzbek folk proverbs. In the 19-20th century, Russian culture influenced their themes. Hence the expression that Russian and Uzbek proverbs shared their wisdom.
Music
Traditional Uzbek music has a long history. Her folklore is represented by numerous genres. Among them there are children's songs, lullabies, everyday songs, labor dance, lyrical and lingering.
The classics of Uzbek music are makoms. A special genre, which is characterized by a touching lingering performance. Such songs are performed by lyrical singers to the words of poets of the East - Navoi, Jami, Mukimi, Nadir, Ogaha and others.
UNESCO introduced the traditional music of Uzbekistan to the list of intangible masterpieces. A wide range of musical instruments speaks about the richness of national traditions:
- string – pinch - dutar, dombra, oud, tanbur, rubab;
- stringed strings - kobuz, gidzhak, sato and setor;
- wind flutes - gajir-nai and nai;
- copper brass - karnay.
No less interesting is modern music. Its diversity can be judged by the famous Sharq Taronalari music festival, which is held every two years since 1997. The festival was established by President Karimov to develop and preserve the best achievements of national music.
National dress
Speaking about the culture of the country, I want to recall the Uzbek folk costume. Men's and women's outfits are distinguished by the brightness of colors. They are a reflection of the lifestyle and traditions of the people. In cities, of course, you will no longer meet people in such costumes. They are worn only for the holidays. However, in rural areas they are still everyday clothing.
The men's suit includes a quilted robe (chapan), which is certainly tied with a scarf (kiyikcha). A traditional hat is skullcap. On the body, it is customary to wear a white shirt (kuylak) of a straight cut and wide harem pants (ishton). Men’s feet are worn with boots made of thin leather. In the old days, belts embroidered with silver and decorated with badges were used as a festive option.
Juma mosque
Speaking about the culture of the country, it is impossible not to recall its architecture. A striking monument of Uzbek architecture is the Juma Mosque, located in the old district of Tashkent. Here are concentrated the main ancient architectural structures that have survived to this day. They are surprisingly adjacent to modern buildings.
The foundation of the Juma mosque was laid back in the ninth century. The temple is the oldest Friday mosque in Tashkent. Unfortunately, it is not possible to evaluate its initial appearance. Over the period of its long history, the mosque was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The entire architectural ensemble surrounding it has not survived to this day.
Theaters
Art is unthinkable without theater. In Uzbekistan, the most famous and oldest theater is the State Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater. Alisher Navoi. The first steps to create it were made back in 1926 when the ethnographic ensemble was created. But the year of birth of the opera house can be considered 1939, it was then that the premiere of the national opera "Buran" took place.
It is worth noting that the Uzbek theatrical art was formed under the influence of cultures of many peoples since the time of the Silk Road. And the last one and a half centuries has been affected by the significant influence of the Russian school of acting.
Holidays
The locals, like any people, have their own holidays. Among them is the most beloved. Holiday Navruz in Uzbekistan occupies a special place. He is very loved by the indigenous people. Its history is rooted in the depths of centuries, even in the preliterate history of mankind. A holiday was born in Khorsan (the eastern part of Iran) more than 4 thousand years ago. Later it spread to other regions of Central Asia.
He appeared at the behest of nature. The holiday is celebrated on March 21, when night and day are equal. Nowruz for the Iranian and Turkic peoples, as for us the New Year. This is a time of renewal of nature. The holiday has state status. Nowadays, Navruz is one of the main Uzbek traditions. As in ancient times, on this day colorful rituals and original rituals are performed.
