Ashgabat hosted the final round of the creative show “Chalsana Bakhshi!” (“Play, bakhshi!”). A new music competition was established in January of this year in order to popularize the national cultural heritage, as well as on the occasion of the inclusion of the craft of making dutar, playing it and the art of bakhshi (folk singer) in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan was the organizer of the creative marathon of folk musicians and bakhshi.

Under the terms of the competition, its participants were citizens of the country aged 18 to 35 years. 12 dutar musicians and the same number of bakhshis from Ashgabat and five velayats (regions) of the country made it to the final round of the competition. Among them are four girls.

To the thunderous applause of the audience, the names of the twelve winners – musicians and bakhshis – were announced. They were awarded with special diplomas and gold chains from the President of Turkmenistan, as well as presented with memorable gifts.

Source: Turkmenistan.ru