On May 1, a grand opening ceremony was held in Khiva for the Arda Khiva International Tourist Center. The new complex is home to 17 hotels and guesthouses, 9 restaurants, open-air and indoor aqua parks, a 3,000-seat amphitheater, 5 cinemas and concert halls, exhibition pavilions, 70 retail stores, 300 market stalls, 11 artisan houses, an
Uzbek writer, cultural figure, and storyteller Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova invites young readers on a breath-taking journey through time, legend, and imagination with her four-part children’s book series, Adventures of the Spirit of Time, now available in English from Hertfordshire Press. Originally published in Russian between 2021 and 2022, the series quickly won the hearts of readers
On the 5th and 6th of April, the heart of Karakalpakstan — the city of Nukus — hosted the inaugural Aral Culture Summit, a landmark event bringing together intellectuals, artists, environmentalists, and representatives of international organisations to rethink the role of culture in the age of climate challenges. Where the waves of the Aral Sea
Lusine Aleksanyan is a maxillofacial surgeon and a young author from Armenia. Her book, “And a Butterfly Soared,” was published in 2024 in the UK, following her victory in a literary competition organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild. Here below is an article about this talented person, originally published by OCA Magazine: The best investment
On April 6, the British holding Silk Road Media and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing the international tourism brand of this autonomous region in northwestern Uzbekistan. The signing ceremony was held as part of the Aral Culture Summit in Nukus, emphasizing the importance of
The French Alliance in Bishkek presents the Francophone Week in Bishkek from 4 to 12 April 2025. This week of events is organized jointly with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of Belgium, Canada, and Morocco. The program includes educational, cultural and entertainment events. This year’s festival theme
A presentation of the book “Why Kyrgyzstan?” was held in Seoul on March 25 with the assistance of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Republic of Korea and the Secretariat of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Forum. The book tells Korean readers about the beauty, culture and tourism potential of Kyrgyzstan. The event
Navruz originated in Central Asia and a number of Eastern countries in ancient times, when Zoroastrianism reigned here. Gradually, it acquired its own forms and outlines. It was enriched by new customs, rituals, and the experience of everyday life and it turned into a tradition. The answer to the question about the age of Navruz
An educational and amusement theme park, SilkRoadLand, may appear in Uzbekistan, becoming the world’s first oriental edutainment park and an attractive tourist destination. The following article by Taina Kaunis, originally published in the latest issue of OCA Magazine, reveals the details of this fascinating project: The modern world, despite certain economic and political tensions, supports
A grand event dedicated to the celebration of International Nowruz Day took place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 18. The event was attended by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, heads of diplomatic missions, staff of the UNESCO Secretariat, and representatives of the Kyrgyz diaspora in France, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported. The Ambassador
A presentation of the new 54th issue of OCA Magazine was held in London on March 8th as a part of the Navruz celebration. The event brought together representatives of creative professions and diplomats from the embassies of Central Asian countries. The new issue of the magazine focuses on the economic issues of the region
A monument dedicated to world-renowned Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov was unveiled on February 27 at Villa Grazioli park in Rome. The opening of the monument was an initiative of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Italy as part of efforts to promote and popularize Kyrgyzstan’s cultural heritage. The marble monument was created by Kyrgyz
The Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in London and ORZU Arts, is organizing a vibrant celebration of Navruz, a spring festival that embodies the rich cultural heritage of Eurasia. This special event will welcome the arrival of spring, a time of renewal and inspiration, and showcase the beauty
Archaeologists have found the remains of two medieval cities in the mountains of eastern Uzbekistan, a discovery that could shift our understanding of the ancient Silk Road, as this trade route between the East and West was long believed to have linked lowland cities, BBC News reported in October 2024. But using remote sensing technology,
‘The Legends of Great Silk Road: Adventures of the Spirit of Time’ is a new book by Uzbek author Gulchekhra-Begim Makhmudova, published in English by Hertfordshire Press in London. This book gives an opportunity to discover for your children (and for yourself) the magical world of the legendary Great Silk Road. In ‘Adventures of the
Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, has been included in CNN Travel’s list of 25 destinations that are particularly worth visiting in 2025. According to CNN Travel, Central Asia’s dramatic landscapes and unique urban centers are proving to be particularly alluring. Leading the way is Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, which has become the region’s new “Capital of Cool”.
On December 15, the European Union Delegation in Turkmenistan hosted an annual open-air Christmas Book Fair. The event, held in the Delegation’s front yard, brought together the local community to enjoy books, charity, and holiday cheer. The fair attracted a large crowd who browsed a wide selection of books from popular Ashgabat bookstores. Particularly popular
The Hertfordshire Press Award for outstanding achievements in shaping and promoting the literary heritage of the Eurasian countries in the international space took place on November 29 during the 8th international festival Eurasian Creative Week in Greenock, Scotland. The festival events and award ceremony brought together creative people and diplomats from 15 countries. Literary figures
At the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Asunción, Paraguay on December 4, the traditional Kazakh wedding ritual Betashar was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. “Betashar is one of the most vivid and widespread rituals in the living
From 28 to 30 November, the XIII Eurasian Creative Week took place in Greenock, Scotland. The event brought together artists, writers, poets, diplomats and creative figures from 15 countries: Canada, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Israel, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Scotland, England, and Ukraine. The festival included exhibitions, book presentations, an award ceremony, and a film screening.