CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
Under the wise leadership of our esteemed President in a new historical period – the first year of at the new Powerful era of the Sovereign state in the year of "the Era of the People with Arkadag" our dear Motherland is rich in joyful historical events and is becoming a venue for holidays and celebrations. Our successive holidays informs us about our successful steps, our continued success - to the wonders of our time. Our dear people, who are inspired by historical events and celebrate the glorious dates with dignity, welcome another glorious holiday – the Gurban bayram. Gurban bayram, along with all muslim peoples, is one of the sacred holidays of the turkmen people that has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.
Preserving the spiritual and moral values of the Turkmen people for centuries, constantly developing our national traditions inherited from our ancestors, raising our noble principles such as generosity, kindness and humanity to the highest level is the main policy direction of our esteemed President. Because, " Motherland is homeland only with the people!" says our esteemed President who creates all the conditions for our compatriots to better celebrate the Gurban bayram. With the approach of Gurban bayram, which is widely celebrated in our country every year, the society is surrounded by a unique, wonderful spiritual state.
The word "sacrifice" is an arabic word that means to stay close. The Gurban bayram and the gurbanlyk are concepts that are widespread in the life of our people.
About the sacrifice which embedded in the national traditions of our people Magtymguly Pyragy in his poetic lines:
Aýyl, aşygym, aýyl,
Mejnun bol, halka ýaýyl,
Halyl ogly Ysmaýyl
Gurbandadyr gurbanda
if we look at the history of the origin of the Gurban bayram, which is of great educational importance to mankind, it is related to the sincere devotion of the prophet Ybrayym and his son Ismayyl to the way of the Almighty. In other words, Ismayyl – the son of Ybrayym was saved from death and a ram came to the place of sacrifice from Allah. Since then, the death of Ybrayym’s son Ismayyl has been celebrated every year, and the celebration of the Gurban bayram, slaughtering of animals for sacrifice, and offering of sacrifices have become a religious ritual in the muslim world.
According to the believe of muslims’, the gates of hell are locked from the sixth day until the end of the month of sacrifice. Fasting is also considered a gift on the day before Gurban bayram, the day of Arafah. This three-day holy festival has its own traditions. On the first day of Gurban bayram after the holiday prayers, the Sacrifice is cut off, alms are given, and verses are recited. The best prayers are made to the Almighty – country peace, national well-being, family unity, mental health, welfare ... People who have the opportunity do sacrifice. The prophet Muhammet said: "There is nothing else that can bring you closer to Allah, such as slaughtering sacrifice on the day of Gurban bayram." As the saying goes, "Gurbanlyk, gurbanlyk, birje çebşim dermanlyk", even the flesh of the sacrificial animal was considered as a medicine. People go to visit each other, their resentments are forgotten, they eat and drink halal blessings, and they make good prayers.
The Gurban bayram is a celebration of the beauty of the heart, the generosity of every human being. Another feature of Gurban bayram is the making the gurbanshor, cleansing, wearing new clothes before the sun rises, and celebrating this festival with purity of heart and body. Because it is a gift for every human being to celebrate this holiday with the concepts of purifying your body, soul and observing the Hajj as best you can, giving your twelve bones to perfection and purity. As we know, the concept of gift and honesty in our people is a moral value.
A number of traditions associated with this holiday have been popular among our people. Our ancestors gave birth to a child in the month of sacrifice in honor of that month, the pre-existing tradition continues to this day.
The Gurban bayram, which has its origin in antiquity, gives purity to the hearts of every human being. The fact that all three days of Gurban bayram have been declared as a holiday and the fact that this holiday has become a big date at the state level makes the turkmen people proud. The festivities of the national holiday of Gurban bayram show the high respect of our people for the holiday traditions. The three-day swing-flying tradition also adds a unique twist to the festivities, which gives joy to the hearts of every human being. Young people are swing-flying, music is playing ... All of these creates a festive atmosphere in our country, enjoyment of life – relationship, unity, joy and inspiration.
Hundreds of our compatriots visit Mecca and Medina to perform Hajj, in the month of sacrifice. This year, on the occasion of Gurban bayram, in accordance with the Decree signed by our esteemed President, 275 of our compatriots have been sent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj. This is a clear evidence that our people have a special respect for our religious traditions and spiritual values, and that those traditions are being developed in a way that is worthy of the spirit of today.
May your prayers and good wishes be strong in the days of Gurban bayram, the holiday of the entire muslim world, for the unity, well-being of our people, for the stability of our dear Motherland, for the success of all our attitudes towards our Hero Haji Arkadag, our esteemed Haji President! Happy Eid al-Adha/Gurban bayram, dear compatriots!
Hekimberdi Ovezov,
a secretary-referent of apparatus of the Commission for holding Elections and referendums in Turkmenistan.