Читать книгу Holidays in Tajikistan - Romans Arzjancevs - Страница 2

The New Year celebration.

New Year is a holiday in Tajikistan, but only 1 January is a free day. Well, what I can say about this holiday. It is because it celebrates in many countries of the world, and because in the countries of the former republics of the Soviet Union. That’s why many Tajik decorate their flats or home with a New Year s tree and some another of these holiday traditional decorations. Need to say, that the main new year s tree, which sets in the capital of the Tajikistan Republic, in Dushanbe city often set on 27 of December and cleaned the new year s tree on some 10 of January, but in the past years, so from the end of the 2017 year, the setting of the main republic new year s tree happened on 9 of December, so about three weeks before the New Year’s Day. This tradition goes from the 2017 year, how I said before when the mayor of Dushanbe city became Rustam Emomali. And that’s why the symbol of the New Year stands on the main square of the Tajik capital, so on Dusti square. But there was not the same, how it was in a few years before. For example in the 2015 year, the main New Year s tree set on 30 of December and took off on 2 of January. So, the citizens of the Tajikistan Republic and its capital felt New Year s feelings only four or five days. And now, the New Year s decorations stand and decorate the capital about the month. So, from the beginning of December and until the middle of January we can observe these decorations. I need to say, that some Islamic traditions took the main parts of these holidays. You know, in the countries, which Islam is the main religion of these countries New Year celebrates on another day of the year. For example, the 1440 year on Muslim traditional time started on 12 of the September 2018 year. And these holidays calls Islamic New Year and it s celebrates in many countries of the Arabic peninsula, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arabic Emirates, but in Central Asia, as You know these holidays not celebrates. In Central Asia countries and in Tajikistan, 1 January – is the former Soviet tradition, and people of these countries saved this holiday. People and nations of the Central Asia region use the Gregorian calendar, how the main countries of the world. Also, we need to say, that the main New Year s tree in Tajikistan is 28 meters high, and in diameter is approximately 13 meters. The New Year s tree was decorated in the 2018 year of 14 thousand toy decorations. So, if You took this fact, as the true, Tajikistan decorated the main New Year s tree the first in Central Asia. And because, the nation of these Central Asia Republic is very proud of that fact, which gave Tajiks to think, that they were the first nation in Central Asia Region to decorates there capital. But in the past years, the main tradition of the New Year is to celebrate this holiday in the main cities streets or squares. So it also becomes, as true in the Tajik capital. So, on New Year’s Eve, on 31 December in Dushanbe, in the Dusti square is a traditional holiday concert with the Tajik singers and at the midnight there are about 5 minutes of firework. Need to write also about some and traditional fairs, which took place in Dushanbe in Rudaki prospect, and it is possible to buy some presents for the New Year and presents for the relatives or parents. There it is also possible to buy traditional Tajik food and especially traditional Tajik cakes or bread. So this is the reason, why there is a very amazing atmosphere and truly magical in the main city of Tajikistan so in the Dushanbe capital. And because of the people of all of Tajikistan with the best wishes to each other for the all next year. But because, the main attributes of the New Year are: New Year s tree, fireworks, presents and some decorations. Also need to write about one fact, which can give to us to understand, that the government of the Tajik Republic in the 2014 year want s to squeeze (remove) the New Year s Day, because this holiday, is not Islamic or does not include the Islam traditions, which in Tajikistan is often respected… But the people of this country did not agree with the government and the New Year on Gregorian calendar stayed, as the traditional official holiday in the Tajikistan Republic.

Navruz (Persian New Year)

Today I will write about the most popular and most lovely holiday of the Tajiks and it is Navruz or Persian New Year, how it also calls. Well, for the first, need to say, that this holiday is also celebrated not only in Tajikistan, but also in all region of Central Asia and in another country, such as Afghanistan, Iran, and so on. Navruz means the spring beginning, and because Persian New Year starts exactly at that moment when officially starts the astronomic spring, so there are days between 20 and 22 of March. For example, in Tajikistan, Navruz celebrates three days from 20 until 22 of March. And in the 2019 year, Navruz or astronomical spring started on 20 of March, at 9:58 pm on Greenwich time, or on 21 of March, at 2:58 local time, so on Tajikistan time. Everyone waits these holidays with the best kinds and wishes, and Navruz also means the new time starting. Also because the Spring comes. It is also a traditional holiday in Iran. Well, I need to say, that in Navruz there are many traditional concerts of traditional music, everyone dance, take the part in different competitions and traditional or jokey games. But the word Navruz means “New Day” from the word Nav – “New” and Ruz – “Day”. Of cause in Navruz, the day time is the same, how the night time. Not shorter and not longer, than the night. And after that holiday the days become longer, than the nights. And every family prepares the traditional food for this holiday. Mostly, on Navruz cooks, some food which includes meat and also cooks dishes from wheat. Traditional Navruz holiday dishes from the wheat calls, as Sumanak. But the tradition says, that everyone, who eats Sumanak, can to wish himself three wishes and because there will happen next year. Of cause, as traditions calls, many Tajik women clean their traditional houses, and every family in Central Asia prepares to celebrate this holiday. Navruz also needs to go to friends, or relatives and to send presents and the traditional bread, which calls Biruh. In the 2010 year, UNESCO calls the Navruz, as the historical holiday and, as the international holiday, which includes Persian traditions. How I also said before, the most popular Navruz tradition is to do the burn fires and jump over it. People because also celebrates Navruz with the fireworks, and, how I also said – people eating, dancing, and takes part in some traditional competitions. Because in the Soviet time, this traditional Persian culture holiday not celebrated, and only, then the countries of the Central Asia Region became, as independence countries, traditional New Year started on this day, from 20 until 22 of March, when the spring starts. It is also celebrated not only in Tajikistan, but also in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and in other countries, such as Afghanistan and Iran. In the western world these days are called Vernal Equinox, so the spring beginning. As is known, the winters in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and also in Afghanistan, especially in the mountains areas are very cold and long, and this is the reason, why the people are excited to wait for the spring and traditional holidays of these time. What can say else? I have no idea, but maybe these holidays became one of Your favorite holidays. I want to say also about one fact, that Navruz is not a religious holiday, it is only a Persian traditional holiday, and it s not include any Islamic views or traditions. Because, nations, in which Navruz is celebrated are Islam Region nations, but this holiday is only a traditional holiday of the spring beginning and with Islam, it’s not stay closed. In each country, Navruz celebrates several days, in the period from 20 until 22 or 25 of March. How it often happened in Central Asia Region countries these days go with the fairs or the fairgrounds and magicians. Submissions of magician s are the most popular tradition on Persian New Year, and because in Tajikistan is also not except. Best wishes on the Navruz holiday and I think everyone starts to love this holiday, as the second lovely holiday after New Year, or maybe in the Central Asia Region it s the first most popular holiday. Everyone wishes only best wishes for these days and maybe the spring beginning will give You will get more happiness and You will start to feel more happy in these spring days!

Holy Month of Ramadan

Well, Holy Month of Ramadan and it’s a very important month for each Muslim person. In Tajikistan, where most of the population belongs to Islam Religion, this month is not except. But in Central Asia countries it is not so important, how in the Arabian Peninsula countries. If You want to look on these situations in Tajikistan, first of all, need to write, that in the Tajik Republic, month of Ramadan mostly feels in the south of Republic, so near the border with the Afghanistan, where people are very religious, but in the capital and in the north of Tajikistan – these holy time is not so feelings. Well, because many Pamir nations pray or do Namaz more time in a day than at another time of the year. So also people do or pray Namaz not only five times a day, how it must to be for every Muslim person, but also plus to that, need to do one more pray, which calls Tarawih. Many Muslims read Coran in those days than at another time. The last ten days of the Ramadan is very important for Muslims, and these time need to spend in more prays, than in the same days. Because Islam tells everyone, that it is very necessary to do – Zakyat, or need to give some food or money to poor people. Because also many people of Islam Religion should go on fast this time. Because fast is very necessary for these days, because Islam teaches us, that to go on fast in Ramadan, which means don t eat and don t drink in a sunny time, or in a day time, so before, than sunrises can eat and just a little to drink any drinks, but when sun rises, every Muslim person need to do fast and not eat and drink anything. So because in the Pamir Region or Mountain Badakshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan, Ramadan is also not so feels, how in the places near the border with Afghanistan, so in some cities, such as Khorugh and Ishkashim, Ramadan feels more, than in another part of Tajikistan. So people in those places don t eat and don t drink in the day time. All the kitchens and cafes will be close in the day time, but especially in the Dushanbe, where people are not so religious, kitchens and cafes will be open in the day time. Because everyone knows that the time of Holy Month of Ramadan each or every year is different, but for example in the 2019 year these time started on 6 of May and ended on 5 of June, when the Muslim world will celebrate the end of Ramadan, and this holiday calls Id-Al-Fitr, or how it traditionally calls in Central Asia countries – Uraza Bayram holiday. These days symbolize the end of Ramadan. The night from 26 on 27 dates of Ramadan, is a holy night when Muslims celebrate the best night of the year, and its calls Leylyat-Al-Kadr. But the beginning of Ramadan starts from the new moon on the sky. From that time it starts the holy month. Because i9n each religion is some differences and exceptions, and because in Islam is also we can see some exceptions. Not necessary, not to eat or to drink in a day time for some people, which works on hard works, or take a part in different military actions, because also can to eat and to drink pregnant women. So for these category people, Islam Religion offers an exception and allows to eat and to drink in the day time. Because in some countries of the world, such as Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other people or their nations are more religiously, than in Central Asia Region countries. But if You want to look at this region, so because the Month of Ramadan is very important for Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Republics, but Ramadan doesn’t “play” the important role in the Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. So because also in the Ramadan time not allowed to drink any alcoholic drinks, it is very important to remember it. Need to say, that the Islam Religion don t allow drinking alcohol. So Ramadan “tries to” save each Muslim person in the strong and kinds of feelings. It is “tries to” save the soul in the best parts and kinds of that meaning. As it is known, Islam Religion includes two Religion denominations or parts, such as Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. Sunni Islam is particular mostly parts and countries of the Islamic world, and because the Central Asia Region is also not except, while Shia Islam in particular in Iran and some East parts of Tajikistan, so the Pamir mountains territory, where people belongs to the Ismaili denomination, which also belongs to the Shia Islam. But all the denominations of Islam, while it has some differences in their religious views, spent Ramadan month and it is very important to that confession. Because the Islam Religion doesn’t have so many fasts, how for example Christianity, and especially Orthodox Church, but this Holy month help to feel the humanity and to do people stronger in their souls and in Islam Religion beliefs.