A book titled Kelaghayi Is Our National Heritage, dedicated to the art of kelaghayi — one of Azerbaijan’s rich examples of intangible cultural heritage — was presented at the “Alliance” Youth Center in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
The event was held with the support of the “Alliance” Youth Center and through a joint initiative of the Mirvarid Dilbazi Poetry Assembly Public Union and the Kelaghayi House Museum.
The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Various examples of kelaghayi and books on the history of the craft were displayed during the gathering.
Gullu Eldar Tomarli, chairwoman of the Mirvarid Dilbazi Poetry Assembly Public Union and the Kelaghayi House Museum, and author of the book, said in her speech that “The Symbolism and Traditional Art of Kelaghayi: Making and Wearing Women’s Silk Headscarves” was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2014, at the ninth session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee held in Paris. She noted that the initiative was carried out with the support of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Published in Azerbaijani, Russian and Georgian, Kelaghayi Is Our National Heritage provides information about the history of kelaghayi, the techniques used to make it, and its role in the national and spiritual world of Azerbaijani women.
The Georgian translation was completed by Imir Mammadli, a laureate of the State Prize of Georgia and a well-known writer and translator.
Speakers emphasized the importance of introducing the art of kelaghayi to younger generations and preserving traditional crafts.
The event concluded with performances of Azerbaijani national dances, while children recited poems dedicated to kelaghayi.