The 33rd anniversary of our homeland Turkmenistan’s Independence Day is being widely celebrated both in our country and in various corners of the world. Turkmenistan was introduced at the first-ever Turkish Festival held in the globally renowned city of San Francisco, California—one of the largest states in the United States. On September 28, 2024, the Ata Watan media team participated in the event and set up a booth showcasing Turkmenistan. Various Turkmen traditional handicrafts and cultural artifacts displayed at the booth made a great impression on the visitors. Guests were also offered traditional Turkmen pastry called “pishme,” prepared by Turkmen families living in California. Hundreds of pishmes, specially packaged for the event, were distributed within the first hour of the festival.
This event promoting Turkmenistan attracted thousands of local residents and visitors of diverse backgrounds. Meeting fellow Turkmen citizens at the event venue stirred unforgettable emotions. The proud fluttering of Turkmenistan’s green flag at our booth caught the attention of two young Turkmen students passing by, bringing them to the event. A Turkmen professor from Stanford University, one of the world’s most prestigious universities, also attended the event with his family and children. The participation of Turkmen families living in San Francisco and their shared memories at the Turkmenistan booth added a special touch to the event.
The festival, which lasted for nearly nine hours, saw a multitude of visitors. A distinguished gentleman, born in Ashgabat in the 1960s and currently working at one of America’s leading companies, visited our booth twice. He proudly shared, “I am an American citizen, but my passport states that I was born in Ashgabat,” demonstrating that the love for the homeland remains forever in one’s heart no matter where in the world they are.
Another young international visitor mentioned that 15 years ago, while she was in the 6th grade, she lived in Ashgabat for six months because of her mother’s job. She expressed a desire to draw pictures of Turkmen cultural artifacts and show them to her mother. We sent a small souvenir to her mother as a reminder of Turkmenistan. These gifts were given not only to this visitor’s mother but to every guest who showed a genuine interest in Turkmenistan and asked questions about our country.
Of course, we did not distribute all the souvenirs at this event, as we plan to use them for future Turkmenistan promotional events. Some visitors expressed a desire to purchase the displayed Turkmen handicrafts and traditional attire. After hearing that these items were not for sale, many foreigners inquired about where they could buy them, but unfortunately, we were unable to provide a definitive answer.
An Afghan-Turkmen, currently continuing his postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, visited our booth with his family and young child, reminiscing about his homeland for quite some time.
The most frequently asked question by American visitors interested in traveling to Turkmenistan was, “How can we visit Turkmenistan as tourists?” We advised them to get in touch with tourism agencies operating in Turkmenistan.
Many guests took photos in front of the Turkmenistan booth with Ismayyl, who was dressed in traditional Turkmen attire and a Turkmen hat. Some guests even wore the Turkmen attire and took photos for keepsakes.
It would be a mistake to assume that every guest who visited our booth knew a lot about Turkmenistan. Therefore, we provided fundamental information, such as the geographical location of Turkmenistan, to dozens of local visitors. This demonstrates the importance of organizing such events regularly for Turkmen citizens living in various parts of the world.
The festival also featured the sale of Turkish delicacies and sweets. Artistic performances by representatives of different countries were organized as well. Our desire to participate in future events with traditional Turkmen music accompanied by the dutar and our national dance, Kushtdepdi, has grown stronger. It is clear that the combined efforts of Turkmen people living in America, especially in California, will be crucial for making this dream a reality.
The Turkish Festival was held at the famous Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco, at the intersection of Market Street and Steuart Street, where the headquarters of some of the world’s most prestigious companies are located. The event was organized by the Turkish American Association in Northern California (TAAC).