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NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY
All about New Year’s in Tajikistan, and the favorite memories & traditions of ASD visitors.
PAGES 12-17
TRADITIONAL TAJIK FOOD
By Anisa Juraeva,with recipes from the ASD community
From the American Space Dushanbe’s Magazine Club.
New Year holds a special place in the hearts of people around the world, symbolizing new beginnings, hope, and togetherness. Each culture, including ours, commemorates this occasion with its own set of unique traditions and festivities. In Tajikistan, the New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm and cultural richness, showing the diversity and unity of our people.
Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, draws in people from all corners of the nation to partake in the joyous festivities. While New Year's Eve is a globally recognized occasion marked by exciting gatherings and merrymaking, the way it is observed in Dushanbe captures the essence of Tajik hospitality and tradition. Despite the universal appeal of New Year's festivities, some Tajiks refrain from partaking due to religious interpretations. However, for the majority, it is embraced as a secular holiday—a time to come together with loved ones, regardless of religious or cultural backgrounds.
ART BY SAMIF HADJIEV
Preparations for the New Year begin days in advance, with families adorning their homes with colorful decorations, preparing delicious feasts, and tidying up to welcome the favorable occasion. The spirit of anticipation fills the air, especially for children, who eagerly await the arrival of gifts, surprises, and sweet treats. In addition to the festive atmosphere in private homes, public spaces across Dushanbe, including parks, are embellished with decorations, illuminations, and festive displays. These communal areas serve as main points for gatherings, where families and friends come together to celebrate amidst the vibrant atmosphere.
Dushanbe's New Year celebrations blend tradition and modernity, with cultural performances, music, and dance adding to the cheerful atmosphere. From traditional Tajik melodies to contemporary tunes, the city resonates with the sounds of celebration, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone.
As the clock strikes midnight, the cityscape is lit up with dazzling fireworks, creating a radiant glow over the skyline and marking the beginning of a new chapter. It is a moment of gratitude and optimism as people say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new with renewed hope and determination.
In essence, New Year in Dushanbe is more than just a celebration it showcases the spirit of unity, diversity, and resilience that defines our nation. It is a time to cherish traditions, forge new memories, and reconfirm the ties of family and community that unite us as Tajiks.
ART BY JONATHAN SHARIFI & ANISA JURAEVA
“MY FAVORITE TRADITION IS WRITING A LETTER TO ‘BOBOI BARFI’” - YOSIN, 15
“MY FAVORITE NEW YEAR’S TRADITION WITH MY FAMILY IS MY COUSIN’S BIRTHDAY. IT WAS AWESOME.”SALMAN, 17
“MY TRADITION IS SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY.” - SUMAT, 20
“MY FAVORITE NEW YEAR’S TRADITION IS MAKING A SNOWMAN WITH MY FRIENDS.”SHUHRAT, 19
“MY FAVORITE NEW YEAR’S TRADITION IS GATHERING WITH FAMILY AND CELEBRATING AT SOME RESTAURANT.”BAKHTIBEK, 22
“WATCHING CHRISTMAS MOVIES.” - ANISA, 16
“GOING TO A PICNIC WITH FAMILY.”
- MUHAMMAD, 19
“I LOVE SEEING FAMILY.”
- HUSEINJON, 23
“I PLAY GAMES WITH MY FRIENDS.” - RIZOALI, 16
“FAVORITE NEW YEAR’S TRADITION IS…. GOING FOR A WALK WITH FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.” - SIEJAFAR, 17
“FAMILY GATHERING, SINGING OUT LOUD IN THE STREETS. DANCING.”
- SADI, 22
“WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NEW YEAR’S TRADITION?” FROM ASD MAGAZINE CLUB ATTENDEES
The skies are crying when it rains the sun is shining when it preys the wind is singing when it blows but what about that driven snow the purest thing I have ever known?
Of all the places it could fall
It’s laying down in its own hall
To keep the secrets of us all
And cover dirty ground with love the purest thing to which I hold on
To show all people what is snow
We shall recognize what is love
A feeling of the newest world
A snow is going to remind us all
The purest living things we were
POEM ABOUT SNOW
NAIRA AKMALOVA, A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM DUSHANBE, IS INSPIRED TO WRITE POETRY ABOUT STRUGGLES IN SOCIETY AND THE MEANINGFULNESS OF NATURE AND PEOPLE’S LIVES.
The following poem was written in Tajik by Muhammadali Nurullozoda and translated to English by a team of ASD visitors, including Kiana, Shaykh, Rustam, Anas, Ali, and Muhammadali himself. About the poet: Muhammadali Nurullozoda is 23 years old and a frequent visitor to the ASD. He is from Faizobod.
Гар номат омад, ба ёд дар ихтиёри ман нест, Гох гах хумори чашмот хукму карори ман нест.
Озурдаам зи дунё то охират ба ёдат, лутфе намою бозо дар дил карори ман нест.
Гуфтам гирам сурогаш, бинам руи чи мохаш, Хайфо баргашта гуфто, корат ба кори ман нест.
Рузе гири сурогам, солхои наёби рохам, Бини ки дар сари кабр санги мазори ман нест
Аз чашми нишотат Оби хаёт баркаш, Чон аз бадан дур шуд, дигар мадори ман нест, Чашмони дили дарё, хостам назар созам, Нигах духтан ба чашмхот дар иктидори ман нест.
Аз рузи рафтани ту дил хонаи гам шуд, Фарёд заду гуфто охир нигори ман нест, Дунёи андаки мо бо будани ту кофист, Бе азми чашми чоду, дар кору бори ман нест.
фасли хазон омад гулхо зи шоха рафтан, Бе ту хаёлам инчо фасли бахори ман нест, Ахли чахони маьни донанд ки дил чи гуяд.
Бе ахли ишку маьно лайлу нахори ман нест, Бо амри нафсу хохиш харки ба суям омад .
Дил нороз шуду гуфто ин ёр ёри ман нест. Гайри туро надонад, васли туро бихонад, Васлат бо ёри дигар, афсус шиори ман нест Али зи чахлу гафлат аз худ суоле пурсид, Охир чаро ба дунё хеч як барори ман нест?
If your name comes to my mind, I can’t control it. Sometimes the allure of your eyes is against my will.
I am struggling till the day of judgment, thinking of you. Do me a favor and return to me because my heart has no patience.
I decided to go after her to see her moon-like face. Unfortunately, she said “back–it’s not your business.”
One day you will look for me and you will never find me again. You will see that my gravestone is not there.
From your well, give me the water of life, because my soul left.
The eye of the heart of the river: I wanted to look upon it. It’s not in my capacity to look into your eyes.
From the day you left me, my heart became a house of sadness. My heart shouted and said, “She’s not my soulmate.”
My little world is complete with my presence. I am failing my life because of your enchanting eyes.
Fall is coming, and all the flowers have left their stems. There is no spring without the thought of you.
The intellectuals know what my heart says.
Without my love I don’t have sustenance. Everything came to me at the behest of my desire.
My heart did not agree and said “this friend is not my friend.” She doesn’t know you exist.
It’s not my fault, she’s not your person.
Ali asked himself a question in his ignorance: “Why is there no luck in the world for me?”
DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024
A majority admit or agree that food in general is always interesting to try, especially traditional foods of other foreign countries. Each foreign country has its different traditional foods with its special recipes and ways of cooking. Every traditional food from every culture has its own preferences in terms of ingredients.
First of all, let’s discuss about “plov” in more detail.
Plov (pilaf, osh) is the national dish in Tajikistan, as in other countries in the region.
Plov is originally made of: rice, meat, vegetables, and so on. Oshi palov (pilaf) is a traditional dish of communities in Tajikistan that is known as a “king of meals.”
Ingredients: Meat Rice
Carrots (Ilhom’s note:
“ use both yellow and red carrots to make Samarkand style osh”)
You can also add bell peppers, garlic, or eggs.
Serve with a salad of cucumber and tomatoes.
Oil
Onion
Water
Seasonings (salt, cumin, pepper)
Nuts
First we must make the dough: flour, water, salt, and one egg. (Muyassora’s note: “If you add an egg, it makes good mantu”). Also add a little oil for good dough. Mix all, and leave for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, roll the dough out big. Cut into parts with a knife.
Cut very small cubes of meat and onions and mix with spices (black pepper, cumin, and salt).
Put the filling inside the dough.
Fold the dough (you can fold it like a flour for “gulmantu”).
Stack the mantu in a pot with a bit of water. Steam for one hour. Eat with onions, tomatoes, green or red bell peppers, or tomato sauce, fried in oil.
Ingredients:
Water Black tea Milk butter Salt
Directions:
First we must make the dough: flour, water, salt, and one egg. (Muyassora’s note: “If you add an egg, it makes good mantu”). Also add a little oil for good dough. Mix all, and leave for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, roll the dough out big. Cut into parts with a knife. Cut very small cubes of meat and onions and mix with spices (black pepper, cumin, and salt). Put the filling inside the dough. Fold the dough (you can fold it like a flour for “gulmantu”). Stack the mantu in a pot with a bit of water.
Steam for one hour. Eat with onions, tomatoes, green or red bell peppers, or tomato sauce, fried in oil.
Information about American Space Dushanbe:
American Space Dushanbe is a program of the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe. It offers free programming in English for students and adults in Tajikistan. It is located at Business Center Poytakht, 49 Mirzo Tursunzoda Street, 3rd floor. Follow us on Instagram at @AmericanSpaceDushanbe.
This magazine was created by the ASD’s Magazine Club.