Silk and Spices Festival

The Silk and Spices Festival is a celebration held every two years in Bukhara, a city on the Great Silk Road. Thousands of years ago, caravans loaded with silk and spices traveled from China to Europe, passing through mountain passes and lifeless deserts, stopping in blooming oases. Bukhara was one of those cities through which the trade route from East to West necessarily passed. In addition, the best masters of pottery, coinage, carpet weaving, gold embroidery and other crafts lived here.

At the beginning of the 21st century, thanks to the efforts of the Uzbektourism National Company, the Bukhara City Hall, and the Hunarmand Artisans Association, the first Silk and Spices festival was organized, designed to revive the cultural heritage of the Great Silk Road and show the wealth of traditions of local craftsmen. The idea turned out to be so good that the festival became an annual event, attracting more and more tourists each time. Traditionally, the festival takes place for several days in late May and early June.

At the Silk and Spices Festival, you will find yourself in the world of an oriental fairy tale. A festive procession usually takes place at the opening, where people dress up in national costumes, artists, dancers, acrobats and strongmen perform. Detachments of medieval warriors line up near the walls of the Ark fortress, and caravans of camels and horses pass along the street connecting the shopping domes of Bukhara. All this creates the impression of traveling a thousand years ago.

During the several days of the Silk and Spices festival, fairs are held where you can buy handmade products, various souvenirs and, of course, silk scarves. A variety of workshops by artisans from Bukhara and other regions of Uzbekistan are organized on the territory of historical monuments. Various competitions, cockfights and other games are held on large outdoor areas. At the same time, various conferences dedicated to the history, culture and preservation of traditions of Uzbekistan are held during the festival.

The Silk and Spices festival traditionally ends with a big concert in the Poi-Kalyan architectural ensemble, where you can hear all the richness of Uzbek folklore music.

If you are planning a trip to Uzbekistan and want not only to see the magnificent oriental city, but also to immerse yourself in the world of fairs and craft workshops, then you should choose the last days of May. It is worth noting that the Silk and Spices Festival alternates with the spectacular International Festival of Gold Embroidery and Jewelry, which is also held in the last week of May.