Ancient Embroidery of Tajikistan

          When I stayed in Tajikistan, I was so fascinated with the use of coloured threads embroidered on their traditional clothings. The good thing about this country, you can see a lot of unique customs based on their historical ethnicity. The complexity of their styles or patterns of embroidery distinction, determine the origin of embroiders' of what areas in Tajikistan. I've seen these traditional embroideries in every special occasions, such as national holidays or nuptial bliss. I vividly remember the "navruz" celebration, they installed stalls in parks; displaying their traditional dresses matching with round caps, bed covers, tablecloths and prayer rugs. In addition, they gathered in the park to play traditional songs using their musical instruments, while presenting their old-fashioned dance.

Local Musical Instruments 

Navruz Holiday Celebration

          Whenever I paid visit in nearby districts from Kurgan Teppa: Bokthar, Khurazon, Rumi and Vaksh.  You can never missed a glance of this embroidery products in every houses. There are some differences of how it was made, but it appears they are created with different shades of color. I also see advantage of traveling the cities and find ways to explore museums of Dushanbe (capital), Kurgan Teppa, Penjikent and Khujand.

Penjikent Traveler Hostel with Emboidered Cloth on the Wall

          In every houses, the traditional way of having meal is through squatting. The table cloth is spread on the floor, where meals are served. Speaking of meals, I am craving for their staple rice "osh" and Tajik bread "nun". Some Tajik people have a sweet tooth, they presented chocolates or candies and biscuits during the course of meal. Aside of this, I like sipping tea mixed with extracted lemon juice before, during and after the meals.

Photo Shared by VSO Volunteer from Germany (K. Gruner) 2010.

Embroidered Tablecloth on the Floor

       Perhaps I should mention that I received a present from my loyal translator, a week before my departure. I carried on traveling back to Philippines last August 2011. That is, a calendar with images of traditional dresses, covers and prayer rugs. In return, I gave her my "barong" as a keepsake from me. "Barong" is national clothes for men in the Philippines, commonly wear for formal or special events. In which, I used once in a British residence Tajikistan. A farewell party for our co-VSO volunteer from Ireland.

Tajik woman dress. Fragment of the dress. "Guli Sadpar" pattern. Kulob. XX century.

Tajik woman dress. Front side of the dress. Charkhi Falak pattern. Kulob. XX century.

Tajik woman dress. Fragment pattern on the sleeve of the dress. Pomir. Beginning century.

Tajik woman dress. Patterns and design on the dress sleeves. Gharm (Rasht). XX century.

Tajik woman dress. Naboti patterns of the dress. Beginning of the XX century.

Tajik woman dress. Front side of the dress. Charkhi Falak pattern. Kulob. XX century.

Fragment of prayer rug pattern. Bukhoro. Beginning of XX century.

Fragment of bed cover. Night peri pattern. Istaravshan. XX century.

Ruyjo (cover). Yurmaduzi. Bukhoro. Beginning of XX century.

Suzani. Isfara. XX century.

Suzani. Panjakent. «Sitora» pattern. Beginning of XX century.

Ruyjo (cover). Samarqand. The end of the XIX century.

Suzani patterns and design. Panjakent. Beginning of XX century. Khurshed (sun) symbol of the God Mehr (Mitro).

Fragment part of Suzani. Sitora pattern. Panjakent. Beginning XX century.

Pattern on Faranji (veil). Beginning XX century.

.Fragment of prayer rug pattern. Bukhoro. Beginning of XX century.

Suzani with Naboti and Katiba patterns. Konibodom. Beginning XX century