Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent hosted the international Tasanno festival of national cuisine and cultures, bringing together representatives of various countries, national cultural centres, friendship societies and diplomatic missions.
The event was initiated by the Alliance of Twin Cities and aimed to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between peoples, promote intercultural dialogue and expand opportunities for people-to-people diplomacy.
The Tasanno festival has been held since 2004 and has become a traditional platform where national cuisine is combined with the art, culture and customs of different peoples. Its distinctive feature is the use of gastronomy not only to introduce guests to national dishes, but also as a tool for cultural interaction.
This year’s festival brought together representatives of national cultural centres, friendship societies and diplomatic missions of more than 10 countries accredited in Uzbekistan. They included Turkmenistan, Palestine, Indonesia, India, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Pakistan and other countries.
Participants presented their national cultures, culinary traditions and values of hospitality. The presentation of national dishes and dastarkhans was a central part of the programme.
The jury evaluated participants in various categories, considering the characteristics of national cuisine, cooking traditions, dastarkhan presentation and serving culture. For festival guests, the event provided an opportunity to explore the culinary heritage of different peoples and learn more about the history and cultural traditions associated with particular dishes.
The culinary programme was complemented by a diverse cultural programme. Representatives of participating countries performed national songs, melodies and dances, showcasing cultural diversity and creating an atmosphere of celebration and friendly interaction.
The festival’s history also featured prominently in the programme. Guests watched a video about the establishment and development of Tasanno since its founding in 2004, as well as the countries that have participated in the event over the years.
A separate photo exhibition was also dedicated to the history of the festival. It featured archive photographs from events held over the years, visits by members of the diplomatic corps, participation by ambassadors of foreign countries and national cultural centres, as well as various cultural programmes.
Over the years, the concept of Tasanno has expanded far beyond a gastronomic festival. A national dish serves here as a kind of cultural ambassador through which a people’s history, traditions, values and way of life are revealed. At the same time, the shared dastarkhan creates a space for direct interaction between representatives of different cultures.
At the end of the event, the jury announced the results of the national cuisine competition. Winners in various categories and the festival’s most active participants were recognised and presented with awards at a ceremony.
The international Tasanno festival once again demonstrated that gastronomy can serve as a universal language of cultural communication.
By bringing representatives of different countries together around a shared dastarkhan, the event contributes to strengthening mutual respect, promoting people-to-people diplomacy and expanding cultural and humanitarian ties.
The festival also creates additional opportunities to promote national cuisines and traditions, contributing to the development of gastronomic tourism and cultural exchange between countries.
