26.04.2025

Dear festival participants and honored guests!

It is my great pleasure to warmly congratulate you all on opening the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival in ancient Khiva – a unique city-museum under the open sky.

I extend my sincere gratitude, profound respect, and warmest wishes to the representatives of esteemed international organizations and fraternal nations, masters of folk art, and distinguished figures of culture and art from over 40 countries participating in this celebration today.

Welcome to hospitable Uzbekistan, and the ancient and magnificent land of Khorezm!

Dear friends,

The international prestige of our festival continues to grow. Holding this year’s event in Khorezm – the pearl of the East – imbues it with a special spirit and significance. The tradition of storytelling in this region has an ancient and rich history, and it is no exaggeration to say that world-renowned classical songs, melodies, and graceful dances such as “Lazgi” draw inspiration and vitality from this great cultural river.

The gifted folk bakhshi nurtured by this sacred land – Bola Bakhshi Qurbonnazar Abdullayev, Qalandar Bakhshi Ruzimboy Normatov, Abdulla Qurbonnazarov, and Yetmishboy Abdullayev – with their powerful voices and poetic talent, have elevated the performance of folk dastans like “Oshiq G'arib and Shohsanam”, “Go'rug'li”, “Avazkhon”, “Alpomish”, and “Khirmondali”. Today, we gratefully acknowledge the esteemed place these masterpieces occupy in our spiritual treasury as the invaluable heritage of national culture and wish creative success and continued growth to the current and future masters of bakhshi art.

Dear festival participants, 

I am confident that during these days you will gain many vivid impressions from meetings and heartfelt conversations with our hospitable and generous people, who wholeheartedly love and revere the arts, as well as from your direct acquaintance with the rich history of our land, its culture and timeless values, sacred sites, and the current achievements of the New Uzbekistan, particularly the ongoing efforts to develop the art of bakhshi. 

On this occasion, I wish all participants success in the work of the international scientific and practical conference that will be held as part of the festival. 

I wish you good health, energy, and inspiration as you celebrate the people’s noblest sentiments and genuine aspirations. 

 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

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