Turkmen embroidery included in the UNESCO list of intangible heritage

UNESCO has included Turkmen embroidery art into the list of objects of intangible cultural heritage. This decision was taken at the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan said today.

"On December 1, 2022, by broad consensus, the above-mentioned committee unanimously decided to inscribe the nomination "The Art of Turkmen Embroidery" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This nomination was initiated by Turkmenistan in March 2021 as an important part of the intangible cultural heritage of the country. At the same time, the Islamic Republic of Iran co-sponsored the nomination," the report says.

Turkmen embroidery is an arts and crafts art used in the national dress of people of all genders and ages in Turkmenistan and Iran. In both countries, Turkmen needlework begins with the preparation of fine silk threads, which are woven in three layers and twisted into a single thread, then straightened with a large needle. This unique technique gives the thread a luster. For the most common style of needlework, a row of loops is created by poking the fabric with a fine needle and holding the previous loop with the thumb of the other hand.

There are other styles of needlework that vary from region to region. In rural areas, the patterns used reveal the territorial affiliation of the needlewomen. They are also used to signify love, friendship, nature and strength. Embroidery is used in wedding clothes, in clothes for funerals and cultural events, and as decorative elements of ordinary clothing such as scarves, coats, pants, shawls and accessories.

The Turkmen national art of singing and dancing "Kushtdepdi", dutar craftsmanship and traditional musical performance art combined with singing, the Turkmen epic "Gyorogly" and traditional carpet weaving were previously inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.