The wide-hearted Uzbek land is serving as a mutual home for lots of various ethnic groups. Everyone is considered equally and the cultures of other ethnics are deeply respected thus keeping the trust and friendship among nations in this country. Indeed, we can be very proud of friendship and unity among 130 different nationals living in peace and harmony in Uzbekistan, whilst ethnical clashes being present in various parts of the world.
Aymandjan Permetova, a Turkmen woman, living in the village of Shikhabad.
- I’m also living in this sunny country called Uzbekistan for eighteen years now. When I came here as a bride I still didn’t know the Uzbek culture. But I quickly became one of the humble and open-hearted people of the country. Now I can say that I’m a an Uzbek. Alongside with learning the Uzbek culture, I am also teaching to our youth some Turkmen songs, music and folklore within the “Turkmen Friendship Group”. The girls who join this group learn Turkmen national dances like “Dushdepti”, “Lalalar” and “Monjiq atdi” besides learning sewing, knitting and jewelry skills.
Conclusively, we are happy to live in peace and unity within this land under the same sky. And I am happy that my children will grow up being sons of this land.
Margarita Effa - a German woman, living in Gazavat village.
I was born and raised in Yangiarik district. Paths of life and destiny led our ancestors to settle here eventually. They had suffered the oppressions of the Great Purge. I got married with Mr. Pirnafasov, a member of the Pirnafasovs family, in 1976.
We had pretty hard childhood. Our mother, feared of the Purge, always told us not to speak German but Russian. That’s how we got used to speak Russian rather than our native language. Thanks to God that since the independence of our country we have reached equality and prosperity. Today everybody gets fairly what they’ve earned through efforts and I am happy that my children are growing up in a country where all the necessary conditions are provided. They are living in good times now, better than what we had before. No one discriminates me now due to my nationality; they call me just sister Margarita of Gazavat. May our homeland be good all the time.
Ogay Tatiana Genadevna a Korean woman living in town center.
- I was born in Urgench in 1988 and our family moved to Kushkupir district in 1988. Both of my parents are Koreans. While keeping our own culture, we have also acquired an Uzbek culture and living in a friendly environment in peace and harmony together with our neighbors. I always attend to Uzbek weddings and invite them to our traditional events and holidays too. For example in our kids first birthday we organize a banquet. There is a belief that one can expect the child’s future according to what she touches, for example if she touches the rice she would be prosperous, a book means knowledge and a needle means a skill. Just like Uzbeks have Eid feasts we also visit graveyards in April. We are happy to live as the members one big family belonging to Uzbekistan.
Ruzika Rahmanova, Iranian.
- In most parts of the district many people from different ethnical background live in friendship and peace. One of such places is our village Akdarband. It’s been about couple of centuries since our ancestors settled in Uzbek land. We, Iranians are fully integrated into the society and assimilated the Uzbek nationality. In Uzbek weddings we sing Iranian folklores such as “Djuft karsak”, teaching them to our youth at the same time. That’s how we share the true values of the world with each other and making all of us richer. I have to also say that it’s due to the appropriate policies of the government that we are living in peace and prosperity. In every bright smile of our youngsters I feel the gratitude for freedom and joy of peace. All I wish is the continuity of peace and no evil may touch our homeland Uzbekistan.
By Shakhnoza Bakhrom qizi
