"TASANNO" Unites Nations

"TASANNO" Unites Nations

Recently, the international festival of national dishes and cultures "Tasanno" took place in Tashkent, on the territory of the Pavilion of National Cultural Centers. All national cultural centers, friendship societies, as well as diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan, Palestine, Indonesia, India, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Pakistan, and other countries accredited in Uzbekistan presented their unique features, gastronomic traditions, and values.

The "Tasanno" festival has been held since 2004 and, over the course of its existence, has become a unique platform uniting the national cuisine, art, and culture of representatives of different nations and ethnic groups. Over its 24-year history, it has turned into an important platform for public diplomacy, contributing to the strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between peoples.

– The holding of the festival in 2004 was initiated by the Council for International Relations and Friendship with Foreign Countries. The main idea was to strengthen relations and friendship between the peoples of different countries through gastronomy and national culture. For us, this is primarily a form of public diplomacy, so there are no rigid boundaries or restrictions here. We strive to unite everyone who is close to the ideas of friendship and cultural exchange. Today, "Tasanno" is held on the initiative of the "Sister Cities Alliance." Embassies, friendship societies, and national cultural centers participate in the event. They introduce guests to their national cuisine and culture. Through culinary and cultural traditions, people get to know each other better, communicate, and become closer, – noted Zakir Obidov, Chairman of the "Sister Cities Alliance" organization.

At each pavilion, tables were set with dishes, music was playing, and representatives of national cultural centers in national costumes welcomed the guests. The dishes presented during the festival were evaluated by a competent jury in various categories. Each of them reflected the history, values, customs, lifestyle, and traditions of hospitality of the peoples participating in the festival.

– Uyghur cuisine is rich and diverse. One of the delicacies is upke-khasip – a dish made of lungs and sausage cooked together. The lungs are stuffed with a special mixture of dough prepared with milk, butter, salt, and egg, and served with khasip. There are other traditional dishes as well. For example, zhutaza is made of dough with pumpkin, carrots, or jusai greens. It resembles khanum in appearance but differs in filling. Samboza is a type of samsa: a meat filling is placed inside, after which the product is fried in oil. Khosha is prepared from pumpkin on the principle of manti, but after cooking it is fried in oil and allowed to rest a little. In general, dough occupies a very important place in our cuisine. We prepare many dishes from it. Traditionally, many Uyghur kitchen utensils were made of wood: kaskans, containers for kneading dough, as well as other kitchen items. Over time, wooden products were largely replaced by metal ones, but the tradition has been preserved. Special chopsticks called chuka are also used for eating, – said Gulnar Yusupova, First Deputy Chairperson of the Uyghur National Cultural Center of Uzbekistan.

– The Polish Cultural Center tries to actively participate in various holidays, representing Polish culture in Uzbekistan. A large Polish diaspora lives in our country, so it is important for us to preserve and pass on our traditions to the younger generation. I believe that through culture and national cuisine, one can better understand another nation. Everything in combination is important here: dishes, music, songs, dances, communication. A feast always unites people, and such holidays provide an opportunity for representatives of different nationalities to get to know each other and feel like part of the common cultural space of Uzbekistan, – noted Yulia Sherakhmetova, Deputy Chairperson of the Polish Cultural Center of Uzbekistan "Swietlica Polska."

Not only the cultural centers of the peoples and nationalities living in our country, but also invited participants presented their customs and traditional dishes. Within the framework of the event, a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of the festival since its foundation was also organized.

In the main part of "Tasanno," presentations of national dishes of the participating countries took place. The features of national cuisines, traditions of preparing dishes, the design of the national dastarkhan, and the culture of serving were evaluated by the members of the festival jury, which gave the audience a unique opportunity to get closer acquainted with the gastronomic heritage of various peoples.

Along with national dishes, musical and cultural performances by representatives of the participating countries were presented as part of the event. Folk melodies, songs, and dances demonstrated the diversity of cultures of different peoples and gave the festival a unique atmosphere.