On 6 March 2015 1st International Tarakama Charshanba Folklore Festival was co-organized in Gagali Village of Agsu region in initiative of MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage, with support of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan and ANAS Institute of Folklore. The festival was attended by nearly 150 participants from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Egypt. The festival program included performance of various folklore groups, join exhibition-fair, to follow oturma rite and akhir charshanba bonfires and Agsu tour.
The guests first followed songs of ashig Muhammad from Agsu, as well as kosa and bald and watched the fair. In the exhibition, carpets woven in Bijo and Gashad villages, rughs of Gagali, ethnographic articles brought from the villages to the fair, art work of artists living in Baku and Agsu, miniature statues made of stone and iron oxide by sculptor Vugar Guliyev, sewing from Mamrukh village of Zagatala and Agsu, as well as hand work, agricultural products (local honey, motal cheese, village eggs, garlic, etc.), as well as archaeological materials displayed from medieval Agsu town and Mehravan Castle, were shown.
Anvar Seyidaliyev, head of Agsu Executive Power welcomed the guests from various countries and regions and thanked to the organizers for such a great festival in Gagali Village. Implementation of many folklore events lately in Agsu is a sign of respect to the traditions in this region and chance o gaining “folklore capital status” of Agsu in the future.
Employee of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Seymur Hasanov stated urgency of villages’ joining the tourism development in Azerbaijan and improvement of green tourism in Agsu. In this sense he hoped for the festival effectiveness and strength.

Chairman of MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Culture Heritage, PhD Fariz Khalilli brought to notice of the guests short history of Gagali Village, importance of Turkic Tarakama Abode and specific feature of the tarakama charshanba. He noted traditional holding of the festival can make impact on the development of financial welfare and moral atmosphere in the village.
Professor Shikar Gasimov stated Novruz and charshanba traditions were banned for long term during Soviet rule and prevention of the ban took much time. He appreciated importance of Novruz assumed by nationwide leader Haydar Aliyev, inclusion to UNESCO intangible heritage list and close attendance of President Ilham Aliyev in events of akhir charshanba and Novruz holiday.

Poet Muharrem Yenigun who joined to the festival from Turkey dealt with Novruz place in Turkic community and Novruz traditions in eastern parts. He recited new poems on Novruz traditions.
Egyptian musician Mona Zedan congratulated the settlers and guests on occasion of Novruz holiday and sang Arabic folk songs. The concert continued with funny spectacle of pupils of Gagali secondary school named after Hagigat Musayev . The screenwriter of the performance is principal of the school, Sabit Abdullayev, producer is Nargiz Guliyeva, the head of Children Union Organization. It was staged for the second time within the festival.
The members of MIRAS Music Group (tar performer-Mehman Mikayilov, kamancha- Jahandar Mikayilov, singers Ruslan Adgozalov, Nurlan Namazov and Tahir Shafiyev) had special music program.
Performance of Baku Children Theatre caused the residents’ interest. The late mentioned they for long time did not see professional actors in the village. According to the director of the theatre Intigam Soltan, they are specially enjoyed in the performance in the villages.
The festival will last on 17-18 March as well.