The art of making the tahya was submitted to UNESCO

On the instructions of the President of Turkmenistan, a regular meeting of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was attended by several Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as heads and representatives of relevant ministries, sectoral agencies, public organisations and mass media outlets.

In accordance with the instructions of the President of Turkmenistan, information was presented on the results of the activities of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO from January to June 2026 and on the tasks set out in the plan for the current year.

Since the beginning of this year, important documents have been prepared and submitted, based on proposals from the Turkmen side, for the inclusion of three elements of national heritage in UNESCO’s regional and international lists.

These include traditions of folk medicine associated with Turkmenistan’s endemic medicinal plants, as well as the art of making the tahya and the traditions of wearing it, which have been nominated for inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In addition, written treasures preserved in the country’s manuscript collection and relating to the life and philosophy of Ibrahim Edhem, a renowned eighth-century scholar, thinker and Sufi, have been proposed for inclusion in the Asia-Pacific Regional Register of the Memory of the World Programme.

Furthermore, since the beginning of the year, more than 40 cultural and public events have been organised in the country to study and preserve national heritage and promote international cooperation.