Nestled at the highest level of the Great Caucasus Mountains of Azerbaijan, an hour drive along a new road from the Azerbaijani city of Guba, the village of Khinalig is well known for its unique language, architecture and traditions. With its unique language and traditions, the picturesque village of Khinalig …
Read More »Tag Archives: culture
Yalli – a masterpiece of Azerbaijani folk dance, safeguarded by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage
Yalli – a masterpiece of Azerbaijani folk dance is not just an ordinary dance, it shows the characteristics of the Azerbaijani nation, symbolizing its braveness, unity and solidarity. Yalli, traditional group dances, is considered the pearl and the oldest type of Azerbaijani culture. These dances are the expression of the …
Read More »Hippotherapy – treatment with horses
Horse-riding, in addition to being a dynamic activity and pleasure, is also a treatment strategy that can be beneficial for health. The method of rehabilitation through medical riding is called hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy that uses equine (horse) movement to develop and enhance …
Read More »Lavash – Traditional culture of baking and sharing thin flatbread in Azerbaijan recognized by UNESCO
Used by every family in Azerbaijan, lavash is a soft, thin unleavened flatbread made of flour and water. The word “lavash” is repeatedly found in early Turkic written sources. While in other countries, these flat cakes are called “katyrma”, “zhupka” or “yufka”, however, their composition and taste is almost the …
Read More »Graceful Karabakh horses – national heritage and pride of Azerbaijani people
Karabakh horse breed, which is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world, is a symbol of national heritage and pride of the Azerbaijani people. Today there are more than 425 breeds of horses around the world, two of which appeared in Azerbaijan – the Karabakh and the Dilboz …
Read More »Azerbaijani Mugham – masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Azerbaijani Mugham is a traditional musical form, characterized by a large degree of improvisation. Mugham is normally performed by three musicians – tar player, kamancha player and a singer – khanande, who leads the main theme decorating it with improvisations and emotional shades. For the Azerbaijani people, mugham is …
Read More »Sheki Khan’s Palace – Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage of outstanding universal value
The famous Turkish poet and novelist of the 20th century Nazim Hikmet, who visited Sheki, Azerbaijan`s historic city located in the northern part of the country that once stood on the Great Silk Road, wrote: “If there were no other ancient structures of Azerbaijan, it would be enough to show …
Read More »Karabakh carpets of Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani carpet is distinguished by a variety of types and subtypes. The typological richness of the Azerbaijani carpet, along with historical and ethnocultural factors, is associated with the unique diversity of natural and climatic conditions, which also contributed to the development of carpet weaving. Azerbaijan carpets are traditionally divided …
Read More »Fikrat Amirov’s ballet to be staged in Russia
Fikrat Amirov’s ballet “One Thousand and One Nights” will be staged in Russia. The ballet will be staged at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theater to mark the composer’s centennial anniversary. The Russian audience will be able to enjoy one of the most popular Middle Eastern folk tale on January 18, 22 and …
Read More »Chovgan – A traditional Karabakh horse-riding game in Azerbaijan
Chovgan is an Azerbaijani traditional horse-riding game played on a flat, grassy field by two competing teams of players mounted on Karabakh horses. A forerunner to polo, it involves 2 teams of 5 players in national dress riding Karabakh horses who compete to knock a small leather ball through the …
Read More »