As we all know, the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival is currently starting in the ancient land of Khiva.

The ancient history and culture of any nation are primarily embodied in its oral tradition—folk art, epic poetry, and legends. These are invaluable sources for understanding national identity and for preserving and developing a nation's unique values and traditions.

With the aim of preserving and developing the unique examples of Uzbek national bakhshi and epic art, promoting it widely, fostering respect and interest in this art form among the younger generation, strengthening bonds of friendship and brotherhood among peoples, and expanding creative cooperation and cultural-spiritual relations on an international scale, the “International Bakhshi Art Festival” has been held since 2019.

The festival was first held in 2019 in the Surkhandarya region, then in the Republic of Karakalpakstan in 2021, and in the Syrdarya region in 2023.

This year's festival, the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival, will be held on April 26–28 in Khiva under the auspices of UNESCO and ICESCO.

It is expected that nearly 200 representatives from more than 40 countries, including Oman, Gabon, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Egypt, Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Serbia, the Republic of Belarus, France, Afghanistan, Japan, the United Kingdom, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Jordan, Switzerland, Sudan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Slovakia, the Philippines, Qatar, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan will take part in the festival.

The program of the festival, which is starting in Khiva on April 26–28, will proceed as follows:

On April 26, a grand opening ceremony of the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival will be held in the city of Khiva;

On April 26–27, within the framework of the festival, the “Second Forum of Turkic World Culture” and an international scientific-practical conference titled “Bakhshi Art in New Uzbekistan: Contemporary Research and Prospects” will be held;

On April 27, an international competition among representatives from foreign countries and Uzbekistan will be conducted as part of the festival;

On April 28, the official closing ceremony of the festival and the awarding of winners will take place.

In addition, the jury panel for evaluating the participants of the festival's international competition and awarding the winners is composed of representatives from Uzbekistan, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kuwait, and Mongolia.

For more information: the ”Grand Pri award amounts to 7,000 USD.
Winners of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each of the two categories — Epic Performance and Instrumental Performance — will be awarded 5,000, 3,500, and 2,500 USD respectively.

As honorary guests of the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival held in Khiva, the following distinguished individuals are expected to participate:

Sultan Raev, Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture – TURKSOY;

Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Foundation for Turkic Culture and Heritage;

Zinelabiddin Muhammad, Head of the International Cooperation Sector of ICESCO;

Mehmet Süreyya Er, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States;

Shahin Mustafayev, President of the Turkic Academy;

Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan;

Gulbara Abdukalikova, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic;

As well as rectors of prestigious higher education institutions from Turkic states.

From April 26 to 28 in Khiva, within the framework of the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival, the “Second Forum of Turkic World Culture” and an International Scientific-Practical Conference titled “Bakhshi Art in New Uzbekistan: Contemporary Research and Prospects” are being organized.

At this conference, prominent folklorists from prestigious academic institutions in countries such as Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan will deliver fascinating presentations on the history of bakhshi art and its role in the development of world culture.

In particular, internationally renowned folklorists such as Doctors of Philology and Professors Karl Reichel, Fikrat Turkman, Eunkyung Oh, Hikmat Guliyev, Oguz Mehmet Ocal, Ismet Chetin, Anarboy Buldiboy, Selami Fidakor, Metin Ekiji, Talantali Bakchiyev, Gulnor Husainova, and Aynur Ibrahimova will speak on pressing issues in the field.

Folklorist scholars working at various higher educational institutions and research institutes of our country, as well as researchers interested in issues related to bakhshi art and oral folk creativity, will also actively participate in the conference with their scientific and theoretical articles related to the field.

Participants of the international conference will also take part in the festive program organized as part of the 4th International Bakhshi Art Festival's opening ceremony, featuring performances by master bakhshis of Uzbekistan, foreign epic performers, and artists.

At the end of the conference, an important resolution concerning the future prospects of bakhshi art will be adopted.

During the conference, there will also be a presentation of the collection titled “BAXSHI AYTIMLARI”, prepared by the organizing committee.

This presentation is expected to be a creative highlight and scientific novelty of the international scholarly gathering.

Only 100 copies of the Baxshi Aytimlari collection have been produced. The publication includes a “Usage Guide” that provides information on the timing of epic performances, the appropriate contexts for performing them, and their positive influence on the human psyche. This guide will be distributed to all conference participants.

The key scientific findings, conclusions, and selected best articles from the “Second Forum of Turkic World Culture” and the international scientific-practical conference “Bakhshi Art in New Uzbekistan: Contemporary Research and Prospects” have been compiled into a special “Collection of Articles”, which will be published and presented as a gift to all participants and honorary guests.

At the end of the conference, each participant was awarded an international certificate by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, along with commemorative gifts from the conference’s organizing committee.

For reference: In accordance with the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PQ-3990 dated November 1, 2018, "On the organization of the International Bakhshi Art Festival," this festival has been held every two years. The first International Bakhshi Festival was held in 2019 in the city of Termez, where folklorists from various countries took part. In 2021, the second festival was held in Nukus, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and bakhshi art of Karakalpakstan. The third festival, in 2023, was held in Gulistan and brought together musicologists, folklorists, bakhshis, and performers from many countries.

Furthermore, in the Presidential Decree No. PQ-4320 dated May 14, 2019, "On measures to further develop the art of Bakhshi," it is emphasized that Uzbekistan is taking concrete steps to preserve and promote this unique art form, created through the high artistic genius of our people. In this regard, the millennial anniversary of the epic Alpomish has been widely celebrated; monuments dedicated to this grand literary masterpiece in Termez and to renowned bakhshis in Samarkand have been erected; and the honorary title "People’s Bakhshi of the Republic of Uzbekistan" has been established by the state.

DEAR FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL BAKHSHI ART FESTIVAL HELD ON THIS ANCIENT LAND. WE HOPE THAT THIS FESTIVAL’S SPIRIT WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE WORLD AND BRING GLOBAL ATTENTION TO THIS CELEBRATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!