that flow down the mountains, so many lakes with clean, cold and fresh water. Mountain areas can be really cold during winter. These areas are very isolated, with several villages and not so largely populated towns that are situated in that region which Tajik people call – Gorno Badakhshan. Badakhshan in fact is an autonomous district which is one of the official administrative division districts situated in the East part of Tajikistan near the China on the East and Afghanistan on the South. This part of the Tajikistan differs from other areas because the people of this district belong to other denomination. As maybe you already know Tajikistan’s official religion is Islam more accurately, Sunni Islam that is represented by majority of the Muslims in the world. Of course this means that the majority of Tajik people belong to Sunni Islam but inhabitants of the Gorno Badakhshan belong to Ismaili Islam. Very interesting to know about these differences. So Ismailism belongs to the Shia main stream of Islam. Although they are both branches of Islam they still have differences that you can see in everyday life of the Tajik people living in other parts of the country. Ismaili Muslims have different views of life which are not in the West parts of the Republic where the native Tajik people live. Also very interesting to tell about the population of 8.5 million is that despite all problems that Tajikistan has in all parts of country life, economy, poverty because of what many residents are forced to go to other countries, civil war for five years, the population grows every year. It was a hard time for nation during the civil war that took place in Gorno Badakhshan because large portion of population went to other countries, mostly to Afghanistan as immigrants in the beginning of nineties, so in 1992. The war ended only in 1997. Tajikistan was the poorest country in former Soviet Union. The impact of this war is not so important now because the country changes and life along with it and problems that seemed to be very difficult to overcome in the past is not so now because the viewpoint has changed. You know it is very hard to concentrate thinking so maybe now little bit about the capital – Dushanbe city. The capital is situated in the central part of Tajikistan on the West. The city is not so modern, not so comfortable without modern buildings but often it is like this in large cities that are situated near mountains. Also streets and roads are not so modern comparing to other capitals of Central Asia’s republics for instance in Astana (Kazakhstan) and Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) whose capitals are very modern and have amazing views of countries landscapes. But Tajikistan can be more interesting because of its unique way of living.
Gorno Badakhshan autonomous district was today’s main theme. Long and hard years of war that took place in this area brought a lot of suffering and problems which this district already had before the conflict began. The conflict started soon after the collapse of Soviet Union. When Tajikistan declared its independence from Soviet Union this autonomous district declared it s for Tajikistan. But Tajik government was not comfortable with this decision and so started the five year long conflict between the official Tajikistan’s government and government forces of Gorno Badakhshan. Probably the reason for this war was based on differences between two cultures – native Tajik people and nations that populated in Gorno Badakhshan. Also religious differences between two branches of Islam- Sunni and Ismaili. These were probably the hardest years in the history of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Thursday
April 30, 2015
Now for today it is important to start writing about one more interesting place or sight on your list and it is Dushanbe Zoo which of course is situated in the Tajikistan’s capital. Well the zoo opened its doors in 1960 and now has a large collection of animals. The zoo owns something around 600 animals from various continents but mainly from Asia and Africa. During the civil war from 1991—1997 zoo had big problems, many animals died others get lost. During that time it was very hard to save all inhabitants of the zoo. Probably I need to tell something about the place where the zoo is built. It is situated in the centre of the Tajikistan’s capital – Dushanbe city on the Luchob river bank. One of the most interesting things to write about will be also the capital of Republic of Tajikistan so about Dushanbe city. The populations of this Central Asia’s city is 780 000 residents according to information collected in 2014. The population of this city consists of 75% of Tajik nation as it is common in many cities of Central Asia republics that there is a high percentage of native nation’s people. It is also interesting to mention Dushanbe Flagpole, national flagpole that is 165m high and since the 2011 it is the highest flagpole in the world. So that is one symbolic place which represents the national flag of the country. It is located near the Palace of Nations in Dushanbe. Well the flag of Tajikistan have three lines and these are red line at the top of the flag, after that in the centre is large white line and on the bottom or under the white one is green line. More over in the centre of the Tajikistan’s flag is symbolic figure with seven yellow stars. You know it is very difficult to write about other facts of Tajik’s capital but I will tell a little bit more about traditional food. Many families has a problem with food that means many families has low income and the traditional Tajik family’s menu consists of simple products which are often used for meals such as bread, potatoes and as in all traditional Islamic Asian countries – 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.
Friday
May 1, 2015
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
