Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The traditional 60th-anniversary celebration of flowers "Flowers Festival-2021" started in Namangan today. Within the framework of the festival, a press tour was organized jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the administration of Namangan region. It is attended by about 100 journalists, including representatives of more than 30 international and foreign news agencies.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, invitations were sent to representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps operating in our country. Delegations from Namangan and other cities and regions were also invited to the festival - Isparta and Osmangazi (Turkey), Qingdao (China), Incheon (South Korea), Mogilev (Belarus), Punjab (Pakistan), Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg (Russia) and Jalal-Abad (Kyrgyzstan).

It should be noted that since ancient times people have been fond of flowers in Namangan, and at different times, in different locations and different people.

So, in the 17th-18th centuries in the eastern part of the modern park of culture and recreation named after Zakhiriddin Muhammad Babur in Namangan there was a mahalla "Gulzor", which turned into one of the largest districts of Namangan. Its name suggests that the main occupation of the local population was the cultivation of flowers. Mahalla residents have made great strides in this area.

Almost every inhabitant between the ages of seven and 70 was well acquainted with floriculture, understood the dependence of the smell and shade of flower petals on seedlings, their varieties and characteristics. When the flowers opened, passersby breathed in a heady scent. The grown flowers were used to make tinctures for sale from their petals and roots. In the late 18th - early 19th centuries, the news about the fragrance of flowers from the Gulzor mahalla spread throughout the cities of the Kokand Khanate.

These days the leading publications of the USA, Russia, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Sweden and a number of other countries have published articles about the International Flower Festival in Namangan. Hundreds of materials were posted in various media in Uzbekistan.

During the week, wonderful and unique events await guests - a flower parade and exhibitions, master classes in floriculture and landscape design, performances by folklore ensembles and Uzbek pop stars, exhibitions of folk crafts and folk art.

At the end of the festival, the florists who took the most active part in the event will be awarded with valuable gifts, including cars.

On 23 May, from Namangan International Airport, a convoy of more than 200 cars decorated with various flowers headed to the city center. In the caravan, you can see modern and old cars, from ordinary vehicles to special vehicles.

The caravan proceeded along the route airport - Islam Karimov street - railway station, where it will make a circle - Amir Temur street - Nodim Namangoniy street. A column of cars is finishing at the Babur Park, in the center of Namangan.

After that, the opening ceremony of the festival took place on Peace Square in the regional center. It was opened by the khokim of the region Shavkatjon Abdurazzakov, who made a welcoming speech. Popular artists also performed.

To hold the festival at a high international level, a lot of preparatory work has been done. In particular, in the Babur Culture and Leisure Park, where the festival will be held, construction, installation and landscaping works for 3.3 billion soums have been completed. The administrative building of the regional branch of the Nuroniy Foundation, Otalar Choikhonasi, an amphitheater for 800 spectators, an open stage, a “corner of tranquility” and a meeting area have been built or renovated.

Some 165 lamps for night lighting and 65 benches were installed. Nine arches have been installed, connecting nine paths. Fountains of medium power, creating coolness, 1.5 km of open water supply system, three underground drainage wells were put into operation. An island with an ice cream pavilion, a boat station, 48 attractions, and a chess club are located on an area of 1 hectare. Four large flower beds and about 500 unique decorative trees have been planted on an area of 5 hectares. More than 100 enterprises and organizations have planted 11 million flowers to create unique artistic compositions.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the festival will be held in the Zakhiriddin Muhammad Babur Culture and Leisure Park, in the Afsonalar Vodiisi (Valley of Legends) park, at the Stele of Peace, on the Writers' Alley, on the Square of Three Fountains and in other places. There will also be contests "The world will be full of flowers", "Whose flower is beautiful?", "In the world of cacti", "Flower in the heart", "Queen of flowers", "Pilaf in a skullcap", exhibitions of handicrafts, national costumes and photographs.

Within the framework of the festival, guests of the region will be invited to the Namangan Monocenter, the New Uzbekistan - a place of youth education center (Davlatabad district), the Dashtbog small industrial zone, the Art Soft holding enterprise, the Afsonalar Vodyisi culture and recreation park (Valley legends "), the shrine" Un bir Ahmad ".

Excursions are also planned to the sacred place "Sulton Uvays Karaniy", the enterprises "Gold fresh fruits" in the Turakurgan region, "Chust tekstil" in the Chust region.