/AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

The second International Ashiq Festival came to an end in Azerbaijan on November 17. The event hosted six amazing days for music lovers including local and foreign guests.

Co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Culture and Tourism Ministry and Ashiqs Association, the grandiose event was also in Baku and other Azerbaijani regions including Yevlakh, Gadabay, Shamkir, Qazakh, Tovuz and Ujar.

Some outstanding performers from Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Russia, as well as all regions of Azerbaijan, participated in this splendid festival.

The festival traveled to Gadabay region of Azerbaijan first, where Azerbaijani and foreign Ashiqs performed their songs.

On November 14, Tovuz region of Azerbaijan hosted the festival.

Greeting the guests of the event, Executive Power of the region Tofig Zeynalov noted that the region is very happy to host such kind of festivals.

He said Tovuz region with their great Ashiqs and culture played a big role in formation of Azerbaijani Ashiq art.

Zeynalov also added that in order to save and convey to future generation this art, a great Ashiq Art Museum will appear here soon.

Then, Ashiqs representing eight countries showed their ability on the Tovuz stage.

Another concert was held in Gazakh region, which is considering as a cradle of Ashiq art. All the performances by the Ashiq singers were greatly applauded by the music lovers.

The next stop of the festival was Azerbaijan’s Shamkir region. Before the event, the guests visited Heydar Aliyev Center in the Flag Square and the city’s park.

Then, all the guests gathered in the Shamkir City Culture Center, where they were mesmerized by the rich energy of the music. At the end of the festival, all participants were awarded with diplomas.

The last concert of the festival took place in Ujar region on November 17. An amazing program, performed by Ashiqs presented an unbelievable evening for the music lovers.

The first International Ashiq Festival was held in Azerbaijan in 2010 attracting lots of attentions.