The II International Gastronomic Festival titled 'National Dishes of the Khorezm Khans' took place at the 'Arda Khiva' tourist complex on September 19 and 20. Over two days, the city of Khiva used the venue not only to showcase its architecture and museum exhibits but also to tell the region's history through cuisine.
More than twenty different traditional dishes of Khorezm were presented at the event. These included items such as tukhum barak, kok barak, qovoq barak, shivit oshi, gumma, ijjon, as well as various soups, meat products, and local types of bread.
Special attention was paid to dishes characteristic of traditional Khorezm cuisine. The program featured goshtli qovurma, goshtli dimlama, qazon kabob, jigar kabob, tuncha shorva, Khorezm mastava, as well as various types of patir—meat patir, durvadik patir, and bog'irsog.
Some of these dishes are available today in ordinary Khorezm homes and establishments, while others require significant time and special culinary skills. This made the festival not just a display of ready-to-eat food; visitors had the opportunity to observe the cooking process and learn about the traditions behind the well-known names.
In addition to local cuisine, participants in the festival presented culinary masterpieces from various countries around the world. The international section featured beshbarmak from Kazakhstan, kurutob from Tajikistan, kebab from Turkey, and dolma from Azerbaijan. The program also included dishes from Georgia, India, China, South Korea, and Italy, including khachapuri, biryani, bulgogi, and lasagna.
More than 19 restaurants, chefs, and representatives of the gastronomic tourism sector from various regions of Uzbekistan participated in the festival. Tastings, gastronomic exhibitions, and practical master classes were organized for guests, allowing them not only to taste the dishes but also to see them prepared within the complex.
The event was also accompanied by a cultural program featuring national melodies and songs, as well as various entertainment and thematic events. Attendees included both local residents of the region and tourists who arrived in Khiva.
A separate element of the festival was the gastronomic competition, whose winners were awarded a prize fund of 120 million soms: 60 million for first place, 40 million for second, and 20 million for third.
Khorezm cuisine is inextricably linked to the region's history, as it includes dishes unique to this land, such as green shivit oshi, various types of barak, ijjon, and Khorezm patirs. Each of these dishes has its own unique preparation method, set of ingredients, and is often associated with family memories.
Thus, the gastronomic festival in Khiva went beyond a simple cooking competition. Through food, participants were able to show a part of Khorezm's everyday history—the part rarely found in textbooks but preserved in recipes and in the hands of those who continue to cook using ancient methods.
Over the two days, the 'Arda Khiva' complex managed to unite Khorezm's national cuisine with dishes from other countries, transforming gastronomy into a new way of illuminating the history, culture, and modern tourism potential of Khiva.
A traditional embroidered vest from Abarkuh, Yazd province, was showcased at the fourth international Soka exhibition in Mexico. At the event, the item received recognition from experts and judges.
This felt vest is considered a valuable example of local traditions in clothing and embroidery of Abarkuh. Its presentation on an international level was made possible by the efforts of Hamed Akrami, a researcher and activist in the field of cultural heritage and traditional arts. Support was provided by the Abarkuh Municipality and the District's Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Crafts, as reported by the Miras Aria news agency on Monday.
During the evaluation process at the exhibition, the vest was accepted and noted, which provided an opportunity to present one of the lesser-known aspects of Abarkuh's traditional heritage in terms of clothing and crafts on the international stage.
The vests, distinguished by characteristic local features and traditional embroidery techniques, have the potential for display at specialized exhibitions, as well as for the revival and reproduction of this craft. According to the report, this could also contribute to creating new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Research and documentation of this traditional craft are currently being finalized. After the documentation is complete, a package of documents will be submitted to the Abarkuh Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Crafts for necessary legal procedures.
The participation of the Abarkuh vest in the international event is viewed as part of ongoing efforts to study, revive, and promote the district's traditional clothing, as well as to introduce its traditional arts to audiences both in Iran and abroad, according to the news agency.
Abarkuh, also known as Abarku, is famous for its ancient earthen architecture and cultural heritage. One of the most famous landmarks is Sarv-e Abarkuh, an ancient cypress tree that has become a symbol of the city. Experts have estimated the age of the tree differently: some suggest it is between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, while other estimates reach 8,000 years.
Dubai Miracle Garden will resume operations for its 15th season on October 8, offering residents and visitors the chance to see one of the emirate's most popular seasonal attractions.
This floral attraction, which transforms a vast area of Dubai into a colorful garden every winter, will welcome visitors with diverse floral arrangements, themed attractions, and family entertainment events.
Tickets for the 15th season are now on sale. A discount is available for UAE residents and citizens upon presentation of a valid Emirates ID. The adult ticket costs 70 dirhams, and the child ticket is 50 dirhams. Children under three years old can enter the garden free of charge.
General admission tickets cost 100 dirhams for adults and 80 dirhams for children; children under three years old also have free entry. A combined ticket is available, which includes visits to both Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Butterfly Garden, priced at 140 dirhams. It should be noted that all listed prices exclude VAT.
The garden has become a familiar part of the cooler months in Dubai, attracting both local residents and tourists due to its intricate floral installations and large-scale exhibitions. Over 150 million blooming flowers have established Dubai Miracle Garden as one of the emirate's most photographed attractions. The seasonal opening usually marks the return to outdoor family entertainment when temperatures become more comfortable.
The 15th season plans include floral exhibitions and themed attractions, and the garden is expected to release further details and announcements in the coming weeks. The garden's appeal allows visitors to enjoy its exhibits during Dubai's cooler months, as it operates seasonally from October to May.
Visitors can purchase tickets for the 15th season through the official Dubai Miracle Garden website. Previously, Dubai Miracle Garden received recognition in the Guinness Book of Records for its large-scale floral designs and installations, becoming a significant draw for both local and international guests.
In 2019, workers discovered a large accumulation of iron ingots in Austria that had been submerged in the Danube River for over two millennia. Researchers were able to count over 500 bipyramidal ingots and their parts, with a total mass exceeding one ton.
According to the authors of the publication in the journal Antiquity, similar finds in Europe dating back to the Iron Age have not previously been recorded in such large quantities. The discovered volume of iron is potentially sufficient to equip swords for a military unit of 500 men.
