tea. These are the most popular products in Tajikistan, but also vegetables and fruits are cultivated. But the most popular still remains bread and potatoes because largest part of the population can get it. Many inhabitants live in poor districts under the poverty line. People has problems with food and they can not include some products in the everyday meals but maybe on traditional holidays on the most important Islamic feasts Oraza Bayram that is celebrated in the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and Kurban Bayram that is celebrated on the seventeenth day after Oraza Bayram. So these days are very important to each Muslim person’s heart and on those holidays usually tables are laid with such products as dates, fruits and other that an average inhabitant cannot afford on weekdays. There is another important feast on the traditional calendar of Republic of Tajikistan and also the most important holiday in Islam that takes place on the 70’th day after Oraza Bayram and it is called Kurban Bayram or the day of sacrifice when the Muslim families have to bring the offering of animal. Most common offering in Turkmenistan is camel but in Tajikistan it is goat, sheep or rum. I tried to understand what is the idea of that because each sacrifice can make these innocent animals to suffer and that is not necessary but the Islam population keeps onto this tradition and try to carry out it every year on Kurban Bayram.
Today I will recall some things that can give more knowledge about the Tajikistan. It is time to speak about the capital of one of the Central Asia’s countries – Dushanbe. According to some information sources the population of this city in 2014 was780 000 residents so we can say that is not so largely populated city comparing to other Asian capitals in Muslim countries. But how it usually is in all Muslim countries there are many bazaars and shops but of course not like in the Europe or America. Only in capital you can find few supermarkets and big shops. Other interesting place in Dushanbe is the zoo which was founded in 1960 and is located in the capital’s centre near the river Luchob. The zoo owns approximately 600 animals from various continents but mainly from Asia and Africa. During the civil war from 1991—1997 zoo lost many animals.
1 May, 2015, Friday
Just a few minutes ago I decided to write about the national clothes of Tajikistan. Yes of course it is climate and other things that have something to do with national garments. People often wear summer dresses, shirts and other light summer clothes styled with sandals. But one other thing was very interesting to notice, it is the style that is commonly seen in different capitals of Central Asia republics. In Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan as well as in Tashkent and Ashgabat you can find people wearing very high quality clothes and formal suits. And you know how the weather is in the East and you can see many, many shops, banks and other places where the employees should wear official suits, which is hard in the summer time when the sun in up for long time and the weather is hot already in the early morning. Although comparing these other countries and their capitals with Tajikistan situation may differ. Not crucially different but little bit more casual because the economic situation of the Tajikistan’s cities is not that developed as in neighbour counties. However the situation has improved over the past years and what we can see now is far better than before. Dushanbe city tries to provide residents with more opportunities and that is reason why people from other districts are moving closer to the capital. If we take a look on other districts, provincial cities and poorly populated settlements the view is not so beautiful. Mountain areas are the poorest places in Tajikistan. What is occupation of people who live there? For example people of these mountain villages work in farms, rear animals such as goats, lambs and sheep. Besides this inhabitants of this isolated villages also cultivate the most necessary food products such as fruits and vegetables, wheat for preparation of bread also watermelons, melons, apricots, plums and the traditional food of Islamic countries – dates. Unfortunately not all of population has access to certain foods necessary of daily meals. This is a major problem. Tajikistan has a border with not so safe country namely Afghanistan. According to statistics official incomes of people who live near to the boarder are higher than in rest of the country. This is because many of those people are drug dealers and sell very strong drugs produced from flowers and plants that grow in these areas in South Tajikistan. Drugs are exported from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia and then to Europe. That means that the population of south districts cannot survive with incomes that are provided by state government and people are forced to search for other options. This allows for people who live under the poverty line to double their income by production and export of drugs. Another interesting fact to know is that Tajiks are healthiest nation namely very low percentage of people have problems with health maybe only heart deceases.
Yes you know it was very interesting today to write about lovely Tajikistan and about occupations and businesses of people who live in isolated and poor areas in South Tajikistan, in Pamir Mountains near the border with Afghanistan. I want to point out that farming and drug dealing are not the only businesses. There are also many fields with beautiful and colourful flowers that are grown especially for export. It is very pleasant to watch how many flowers grow near snow covered Pamir Mountains. Even in the summer time the ice on mountain tops does not melt completely. The colour of these flowers usually is red – typical in Central Asia. But mainly Tajikistan is famous for production and export of cotton. It is used for manufacturing of clothes and other products. Cultivation and export of cotton is also popular in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
2 May, 2015, Saturday
Yesterday I wrote about some most celebrated religious feasts in Islamic cultures particularly in Tajikistan. For instance Oraza Bayram is celebrated in the end of Ramadan the Holy Month and second most celebrated feast is Kurban Bayram which is held on 70th day after Oraza Bayram. Besides these religious holidays Tajik people also celebrate the day of independence that was declared on the 9th of September, 1991. So in 2015, 24 years since the declaration of independence has passed and new history on Tajikistan has begun. Tajik people also celebrate State Language Day in the November. This is very symbolic event because it is native language of most of the citizens. According to statistics 10% of population is native Uzbeks but official language of the Republic of Tajikistan is Tajik. But of course Uzbek people are allowed to communicate in their native language with each other. Tajikistan has a strong position regarding traditions, lifestyle, religion etc. Now I will tell little bit about relationships with other countries. Historically and in present days Tajikistan has a friendly relationship with certain countries in Central Asia such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan but unfortunately Tajikistan does not have friendly relationships with two other Islamic countries – Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Tajikistan just does not hav any international relationships with Uzbekistan, but with Turkmenistan is a whole different story. Turkmenistan has closed all its borders with foreign countries, it is the safest place to live because there is very low crime level and it does not participate in war conflicts. Sadly it cannot be said about Tajikistan, because crime lever here is high and also shady economy because of drug trafficking. In the night time it is not so safe to be outside, not only in capital but also in smaller towns. Safest option is to stay at home. Dushanbe city is simple with not so many high buildings also city squares are free and easy and I started to feel some best feelings and love for those people who manages to live in bad economical situation and poor conditions. You have to be aware that in Tajikistan earthquakes may happen from time to time. But they are not major. But in case of this natural disaster people get help only more difficult is to provide necessary help to people who live in isolated areas because Tajikistan have not appropriate equipment and resources.
There have not been any major tragedies in history of Republic of Tajikistan, I mean natural disasters. And it is really good because in case of some major earthquake it would be very difficult to recover and rebuild the infrastructure. It would be nearly impossible to find budget to cover all the expenses for rebuilding process. Large part of Tajik nation and also people form neighbour countries are very poor and would not be able to sustain themselves anymore in case of tragedy. Fortunately
