1st International Tarakama Charshanba Folklore Festival started on 16 March continued till 17-18-March. The festival 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 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.
Shamakhi folklore group: Ashig Rza Mamedov (saz), Abgul Adgozalov (double drum), Shohrat Aliyev (drum), Mirza Mirzayev and Idris Taghiıyev (zourna) performed memorable program. Later on Agsu music group led by Parviz Osmanov, as well as music performed by young singer from Gagali village, Agadadash Talishov and Ashig Amil from Bijo Village were also interesting.
Poet Muharrem Yenigun who joined to the festival from Turkey dealt with Novruz traditions in eastern parts especially Kars and Igdir and sounded new poems on Novruz. Egyptian musician Mona Zedan sang Arabic folk songs from wide repertoire.
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.
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. The worldwide well-known photographers Mammad Rahimov, Mirnaib Hasanoghlu and Rauf Umudov (Azerbaijan), Ahmet Inamçer and Ahmet Serdar (Turkey), Kakha Pkakhadze and Nino Mghebrishvili (Georgia) joined the festival. They followed the festival curiously and took interesting photographs. It is intended to exhibit the photos and publish catalogues in the near future. There was held “egg contest” within the festival. The winner was the settler of Gagali village, Davud Islamov. Member of MIRAS Tofiga Jafarli became winner of xoncha contest.
In the exhibition, products of AzGranata MMC, 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.
On 17 March afternoon large bonfires were made and the guests and the villagers went through the fire. Desire balloons and shamals were flying into the sky. After dinner with the pilaf, the people separated into different planned houses and remained awake till the morning, entertainment programs held, sacks thrown to the doors, the slept people were sewn onto their blankets.
In the early morning the cattle was passed through the bonfire. This tradition due to the ancient beliefs is followed by all residents of the village. On the last day of the festival the active participants were granted certificates.