The unique objects of the Tajik Nation

The unique objects at UNESCO Cultural Heritage List of Humanity

1. The 5500-year-old historical monument of the town of Sarazm in Panjakent city is a historical and archeological reserve as the center of the formation of the culture of zamindari, craftsmanship and urban planning of Tajiks. It dates back to the 4th millennium BC, with C14 dates ranging from 3900-2100 BC (incl. in UNESCO list on 31.07.2010)

2. Tajik National Park is a national park and nature reserve in eastern Tajikistan. The park covers 26,116.74 square kilometers of Tajikistan's total area. The national park features a mix of steppe, desert, grassland and alpine regions. Species known to live in the national park include the brown bear, snow leopard, wolves, marchur, Marco Polo sheep, brown-headed gulls and bar-headed geese. (incl. in UNESCO list on 26.06.2013)

3. The Tigrovaya Balka (Beshai Palangon) Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Tajikistan located at the confluence of Vakhsh and Panj Rivers forming the Amu-Darya River. It stretches over 40 km (25 mi) from the southwest to the northeast with an area of 460 km2 (180 sq mi). (incl. in UNESCO list on 24.09.2023)

Object: TIGROVAYA BALKA NATURE RESERVE

Location: Shaartus, Nosiri Khusrav districts

4. Falak is a significant component of Tajik culture, having existed as a traditional musical genre since ancient times. Falak, meaning ‘heaven’, ‘fortune’ and ‘universe’, is the traditional folklore music of the mountain people of Tajikistan. The expressive and philosophical musical genre may be performed by a male or female soloist, either acappella, or with a single instrumental accompaniment or an ensemble and dancers. (incl. in UNESCO list on 15.12.2021)

5. Navruz is one of the oldest Tajik holidays as Festival over country in every family and villages. According to historical records, the holiday was first celebrated by the Persian king Jamshed. Navruz has gained recognition on an international scale, having been recognized as an official holiday by the United Nations General Assembly. (incl. in UNESCO list on 30.11.2016)

6. Oshi palav (pilaf) is a traditional dish of communities in Tajikistan recognized as a part of their cultural heritage. Otherwise known as the ‘King of meals’, it is based on a recipe using vegetables, rice, meat and spices but up to 200 varieties of the dish exist. It is considered one of the best examples of world intangible culture. (incl. in UNESCO list on 01.12.2016)

7. The art of Chakan embroidery is the practice of sewing ornaments, images of flowers and symbolic drawings with colourful threads on cotton or silk fabrics. The tradition is widespread among women and girls in Tajikistan. Chakan embroidery is used to decorate clothing and household items such as women’s shirts, headscarves, curtains, pillows, bedspreads and coverlets for cradles. (incl. in UNESCO list on 29.11.2018)

8. The classical music of the Tajik people, known as "Shashmaqom," is a significant component of Tajik musical culture and artistic expression during the Soviet period. Shashmaqom recognized as a remarkable achievement in global music and a profound cultural treasure of humanity. (incl. in UNESCO list on 04.11.2008)

9. The renowned Tajik thinker Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi (1207-1273) is among the scholars who have made significant contributions to the development of science and culture in both the East and the West. His magnum opus, Masnavi Mawlavi, was initiated in 1259 and took more than a decade to complete. He was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi faqih (jurist), Islamic scholar, Maturidi theologian (mutakallim), and Sufi mystic originally from Greater Khorasan in Greater Iran. (incl. in UNESCO list on 04.05.2023)

10. Silkworm farming is one of the oldest agricultural sectors in the world, with a history of over 5,000 years. It includes mulberry cultivation, silkworm egg production, silkworm cocoons, and primary processing of silkworms. The cultural significance of silkworm cocoons is recognized by their inscription on the UNESCO List (01.12.2022).

11. Khoja Nasriddin, Mullo Nasriddin, and Nasriddin Afandi are prominent figures in Tajik folklore. Numerous anecdotes have been crafted under this name in Tajik written literature. In 2022, “The Tradition of Telling Anecdotes of Khoja Nasriddin” was inscribed on the Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (on 01.12.2022).

12. Tajikistan is home to the rarest wild animal, the Snow Leopard, according to the Red Book of Tajikistan. The number of snow leopards in Tajikistan is said to be more than 350. Presently, these majestic creatures inhabit protected natural areas, including the Romit Biosphere Reserve, the Dashti Jum, Zorkul Reserve, and the National Natural Parks of Tajikistan in the GBAO Region, Lakhsh and Sangvor districts.

13. Sadeh, or Sada, is a celebration held annually on 30 January. In the folk calendar, it marks the day when farmlands are prepared for their next spring plantation and when people celebrate the end of the coldest winter days, with 50 days and 50 nights remaining to spring. Accordingly, ‘Sadeh’ means ‘one hundred’. The element enjoys diverse manifestations in Iran and Tajikistan. (incl. in UNESCO list on 06.12.2023)

14. In Tajikistan and Iran, Mehregan is a religious celebration that is tied to the autumn harvest. Every year, from 2 October to 2 November, communities express gratitude to Allah for their livestock and crops. The Mehrgon festival is a holiday that celebrates love, friendship, kindness, and the triumph of the harvesters. (incl. in UNESCO list at 2024)