Turkmen Melon Day
The Day of Turkmen Melon ( Turkmen Gawun baýramy ) is a holiday in the Central Asian state Turkmenistan . It is celebrated every year on the second Sunday in August and serves to honor the local melons .
history
The holiday was introduced by decree in 1994 by the then Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov , known as Turkmenbashi. He justified the introduction of the holiday with the rich tradition of melon cultivation in Turkmenistan and the importance of the fruit for the country's agriculture.
Celebrations
Turkmen Melon Day is celebrated across the country, but the capital, Ashgabat , is the center of the celebrations . Among other things, conferences take place here in which farmers, breeders and scientists take part and discuss modern technology in the industry, new breeds and the preservation of traditional cultivation methods. The celebration also includes the presentation of various types of melon and special individual specimens. Finally, the winners of the Golden Melon , Biggest Watermelon , Biggest Pumpkin , Masterful Pumpkin Products and Master Breeder competitions will be announced. They receive prizes presented by the Turkmen President.
The festivities are musically accompanied by traditional folk music. Events in the fields of culture and sport also take place in the framework of the celebrations.
Individual evidence
- ^ Turkmenistan celebrates Melon Day as national holiday. Retrieved July 7, 2019 .
- ^ Turkmen leader inspires devotion to melon . August 11, 2003 ( bbc.co.uk [accessed July 7, 2019]).
- ↑ Festivities in Turkmenistan to mark Turkmen Melon Day. August 17, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2019 .