Every year, on the second Sunday of August, all of Turkmenistan, and especially melon growers and market traders, celebrate a national holiday – Day of Turkmen melon (Turkom.Gawun baýramy). It was established in 1994 by the country’s first president, Saparmurat Niyazov.
For several millennia, melons have been cultivated on the territory of Turkmenistan, including sweet, juicy, aromatic melons. This is confirmed by archaeological finds: at the excavations of the ancient settlement of Gyaur-Kala, several melon seeds were found.
To this day, Turkmen melons remain a favorite delicacy of residents of many countries, especially the former Soviet republics. And in Turkmenistan itself, they are considered part of the great heritage, national wealth, a symbol of the talent and hard work of local farmers, who adequately continue the traditions of their ancestors.
Currently, more than 1,6 thousand varieties of melons have been described, which are grown in different countries of the world. More than 400 of them are varieties of Turkmen melon created by local breeders. Currently, more than 200 samples of locally bred melons are cultivated on the country’s melon plantations. Most of them were restored during the years of independence by the joint efforts of scientists and folk breeders. “The queen of melon” – this is the name of the melon in Turkmenistan – poets devote poetry, writers – stories and essays, artists depict her in still lifes and landscapes.
On the Day of Turkmen Melon, mass festivities are organized in the capital of the country, Ashgabat. Here you can visit an exhibition of melons and gourds, taste different varieties of melons and watermelons, as well as national dishes prepared from them.
In addition, concerts and fairs are held in different cities of the country. And the President of Turkmenistan on this day awards the best melon growers and collectors of the country – the winners of the competition with the promising title “Golden melon of the Golden Age”.