About Melon Day
Melons are a big deal in Turkmenistan. Hundreds of varieties are grown there, and the people are very proud of them. So proud that since 1994, the second Sunday in August has been observed as an official holiday in Turkmenistan.
Melon Day was established in 1994 by Saparmurat Niyazov, the first president of Turkmenistan after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. Niyazov, who preferred to be known as ‘Turkmenbashi’ or ‘leader of the Turkmen,’ created this holiday to celebrate one of the nation’s most important agricultural products and a source of national pride.
Turkmenistan boasts an impressive diversity of melons, with approximately 400 varieties cultivated in the country. The arid climate and fertile soils of this Central Asian nation provide ideal conditions for growing exceptionally sweet and aromatic melons, which have been an integral part of Turkmen culture and cuisine for centuries.
The day is observed in recognition of the significance of melons in the country’s culture and history. Various fairs and marketplaces entice visitors with displays of golden melons, enticing them to sample melons grown in different parts of Turkmenistan.
Musicians and dancers take to the streets, and the nation’s best melon growers are lavished with gifts.
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