With the dedication of our compatriots studying and living abroad, Turkmenistan is being consistently promoted in various corners of the world. In this regard, the events held in the United States of America, especially those in California—the country’s largest and economically strongest state—are particularly noteworthy.
On May 22, 2025, during the “International Culture Day” held at an elementary school in the city of Davis, California, a Turkmenistan wall prepared by 3rd grade student Yunus Orazgylyjov and his brothers Ysmaýyl and Ýusup aroused great interest. The wall displayed Turkmen national values — carpets, Akhalteke horses, Alabay dogs, dinosaur footprints in Köýtendag, the canyon of Ýaňgala, our capital Ashgabat, the city of Arkadag, and the Awaza national tourism zone with beautiful pictures that attracted the attention of visitors.
The emblem of the year 2025 “International Year of Peace and Trust” was also placed on the wall next to the “Turkmenistan” inscription. Our green flag, a symbol of spiritual uplift, could be seen from afar and made the wall even more attractive. The pictures and information presented gave students, their parents, and teachers an opportunity to get to know our country more deeply. Because Yunus and his brothers had also organized such an event last year.
The book of Magtymguly Pyragy displayed on the wall further increased the interest in the great word master of the Turkmen people. After a brief conversation, one American guest asked: “Is Magtymguly like the Shakespeare of the Turkmens?” He listened to some lines of poetry from the book in Turkmen and asked Ysmaýyl to translate them into English.
It is also worth mentioning the participation of “Makul Dictionary” in this event. This platform, which operates in Turkmen, English, Russian, and Turkish languages, generated great interest among children with its illustrated dictionary section. Alongside nearly 100 English words, four Turkmen answer options were provided, and children who selected the correct answer were given gifts. They were also given the opportunity to visit the official website of “Makul Dictionary” to find the correct answer.
In addition to the cuisines of different countries, guests had the opportunity to taste Turkmen pilaf. Also, on a giant screen placed in the venue, Turkmen songs were played in videos introducing Turkmenistan. Alongside folk songs performed with dutar and gyjak, songs in Turkmen and English prepared with artificial intelligence were also shown.
One of the songs was dedicated to our green flag. Lines such as “I am proud of the name of the green flag, I admire you when you come to my mind, Strength joins the Patriotic Wind, Your name is my rhythm — My Flag!” were presented with photos taken with our green flag in various parts of America. Among those photos were locations from New York, London, Istanbul, Paris, Moscow, Dubai, and the Great Wall of China—key cities of the world.
Another song introduced the national values of our Homeland in English. The video showed pictures from various regions of our country. A folk melody performed on the Turkmen dutar gave guests the opportunity to experience the heights of Turkmen musical art.
In today’s event, students from China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and Japan, as well as Native Americans, participated alongside Turkmenistan. Each country’s representatives performed with cultural values specific to their heritage, adding a special color to the celebration.
As a result, such cultural events are held not only in California but also regularly by our compatriots living in various parts of the USA and around the world. Because every Turkmen compatriot who sincerely loves the Homeland represents our Motherland abroad with honor, pride, and responsibility. Alongside the successes achieved in education, work, and life, the human and cultural values unique to the Turkmen people are being shared with the world.