(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Laman Ismayilova read more The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation has
celebrated Manas Day, devoted to the ancient epic of the Kyrgyz
people.
'The Manas Epic and the Turkic Epic Tradition' book was
presented as part of the event, Azernews reports.
The book was written by the Manas scholar and prominent poet,
Adil Jamil, and was released in the Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz
languages.
Many officials, deputies, ambassadors, culture and art figures,
intellectuals, and media representatives took part in the
event.
In her speech, President of the International Turkic Culture and
Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva outlined that the
centuries-old sagas and epics of the Turkic people are among the
richest examples of folklore in the world, along with the
all-Turkic oral literature.
The foundation president valued the Manas epic as a vital part
of the spirituality of the Kyrgyz people.
'Manas reflects the inner world, opinion, and thinking of the
Kyrgyz people, that is, their national identity. Furthermore, Manas
is the power of the Kyrgyz. It is because, in the epic, the heroic
pages of the Kyrgyz, their love for the motherland, and their
ever-standing desire to defend the land are manifested. On the
other hand, Manas is a heritage. It is a legacy that is passed down
from generation to generation, despite various obstacles, and
difficulties. And finally, Manas is a factor that unites the Turkic
World,' she said.
Gunay Afandiyeva recalled the statements by Azerbaijani National
Leader Heydar Aliyev on the 1,000th anniversary of Manas held in
1995 in Bishkek: 'Our immortal epics like Manas are the eternal
wealth of all mankind. The extent to which Manas belongs to the
Kyrgyz people is the same for Manas belonging to the Azerbaijani
people. Manas belongs to all Turkic peoples.'
The foundation president underlined that the book written by
Adil Jamil, a well-known scientist in the field of in-depth study
of Manas, aims to bring the Turkic peoples closer together.
She also noted that the relations between the International
Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and Kyrgyzstan, the founding
member state of the organization, are strengthening day by day,
adding that multiple projects are being implemented in this
direction.
Speaking at the event, Kyrgyz Special Representative of the
President of the Kyrgyz Republic Taalatbek Masadykov, noted that
Manas is one of the brightest peaks of world epic art.
He emphasized that the preservation and transmission of rare
values and knowledge collected in the epic, inherited from
ancestors, created an opportunity for the Turkic peoples to
continue their progressive development.
T. Masadykov said that the book published by the organization
makes a significant contribution to the study of culture,
traditions and spirit not only of the Kyrgyz people but of the
entire Turkic world.
He highly appreciated the mutual friendship and cooperation of
the organization with Kyrgyzstan and thanked the foundation for its
support in the book publication as well as the author for his
interest and in-depth research on the topic.
Kyrgyz Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kairat Osmonaliev said that
scientific research of Manas and its comparative analysis with
epics of other peoples are always relevant.
He stressed that the dastan was declared a cultural treasure of
the world by the United Nations.
The ambassador said that this historical source, which contains
a thousand-year history of Kyrgyzstan, also described the ties of
friendship between the Kyrgyz people and various Turkic
peoples.
In his speech, Kairat Osmonaliev also touched upon the
importance of the work carried out by the foundation for the
preservation of the common heritage of the Turkic world and
evaluated the book as an important source for studying the features
of Turkic folklore.
In their remarks, Azerbaijani MP Academician Nizami Jafarov,
representative of TURKSOY Kanat Mambetaliyev, director of the
Azerbaijan Institute of Folklore, Academician Muxtar Imanov,
Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Azerbaijan to
the Organization of Turkic States, statesman Hasan Hasanov stressed
the book's major role in further strengthening the ties between the
Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz peoples.
The author of the book, Adil Jamil, emphasized the important
role of the preservation and promotion of Turkic inscriptions in
the transmission of ancient thoughts and thinking of Turkic peoples
to future generations.
He expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation with the
foundation and the embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Azerbaijan for the
high-level organization and presentation of the research he has
been working on for a long time.
In the artistic part of the event, Manaschi Emirtemir Tolonov, a
cadet of the Heydar Aliyev Military Institute, performed excerpts
from the Manas epic.
Honored Art Worker of Azerbaijan Sahib Pashazada and Saule
Osmonaliyeva thrilled the audience with Kyrgyz national songs and
music.
Samples of Kyrgyz cuisine were also presented as part of the
event. An exhibition of illustrations, dedicated to the Manas epic
by the well-known Kyrgyz artist Zamir Ilipov, was of special
attention.
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