{"id":41121,"date":"2021-10-13T16:07:34","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T16:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/?p=41121"},"modified":"2021-10-13T18:20:12","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T18:20:12","slug":"silk-spice-festival-of-bukhara-uzbekistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/silk-spice-festival-of-bukhara-uzbekistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Silk & Spice Festival of Bukhara, Uzbekistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ikat silk fabric for sale in Bukhara. Photo credit: Abdu Samadov<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Born and raised in Samarkand, <\/em>Abdu Samadov<\/em><\/a> is full of inside information about <\/em>Uzbekistan<\/em><\/a>. He has studied in England and the U.S. and is fluent in English, Farsi, and Russian. Abdu guides MIR travelers throughout <\/em>Central Asia<\/em><\/a>, enthusiastically sharing his regional knowledge along the way. Read on to learn what Abdu discovered on his visit to Uzbekistan\u2019s Silk and Spice Festival, which takes place annually in Bukhara and has inspired a new MIR tour<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Surrounded by harsh deserts, the Silk Road oasis town of Bukhara<\/a> has for millennia tempted travelers with its cool shade, fruit orchards, and warm hospitality. Sogdians, Turkic peoples, Arabs, Persians, Mongols, and Russians have all passed through and occupied this territory. While much has changed over the years and all these cultures have left a mark, Bukhara is still a welcoming place. It is perhaps for that reason that the town was chosen to host Uzbekistan\u2019s Silk and Spice Festival, which is now held in Bukhara annually. The festival was created with a few primary objectives: to revive the cultural legacy of the Silk Road and to showcase the rich traditions of local artisans to visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently had the opportunity to attend this colorful festival.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Here Are<\/strong> My Top Four Favorite Silk and Spice Festival Experiences:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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1. People-watching<\/strong> in Bukhara<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Photo credit: Abdu Samadov<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bukhara is a great place for people-watching, even when the festival is not happening. You can see kids playing in mud-brick back alleys, old men with white beards and traditional caps sipping tea, and women going about their daily shopping in colorful dresses. The architectural monuments spread throughout the old town area make for a wonderful backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Silk and Spice Festival amplifies all of this and provides one of Uzbekistan\u2019s best opportunities for people-watching. There is a parade that takes place during the festival that leads from the Ark Citadel to the Lyabi Hauz Plaza, winding past the markets and madrassas of the old town. Thousands of artists, musicians, dance troupes, and ordinary locals walk this route wearing ornate costumes, showcasing their crafts, dancing, and singing folk songs. You might even see a few camels and horseback riders in the parade. The best part is that if you are so inclined, you are very welcome to join in and walk part of the parade route yourself! For people-watching and photography, I would recommend staking out a spot across from the Kalon Mosque and Minaret. The minaret, Bukhara\u2019s tallest, makes a great background.<\/p>\n\n\n

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