- What to bring national from Uzbekistan?
- Cheerful Nasreddin and Uzbek beauty
- Traditional outfits
Central Asia for many European tourists seems to be a mysterious land of endless desert territories and snow-capped mountain peaks. Tourists have long been legendary about the hospitality of local residents. To check this, you just need to buy a ticket, see with your own eyes the beauty of nature and the generosity of the inhabitants. The question of what to bring from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan or Kyrgyzstan does not take long for the minds of travelers. Each country has its most famous souvenirs, ancient crafts and techniques.
In this article, we will talk about what Uzbek gifts will be the best for European tourists, what souvenirs to pay attention to, what to bring from utilitarian items and what pleasant things to pamper yourself and your family with.
What to bring national from Uzbekistan?
In Uzbekistan, you can find many unique crafts, and the works of local masters are worthy of taking a place in the museum exposition, and not only on the shelf of some lover of oriental exoticism. Pottery is considered the oldest Uzbek craft, firstly, clay as a natural material is very widespread.
Secondly, on the territory of each region of the country, its own national schools have been formed, so gifts can differ dramatically. In Khiva, the most popular souvenir is lyagan, a huge dish used by local housewives to serve pilaf or fruit. It is impossible to refrain from buying, even if it is not supposed to cook in such huge portions. The dish can become a wonderful piece of interior, used as a wall panel, since it is traditionally decorated with geometric and floral complex, delicate ornaments.
In Khorezm, craftsmen offer to purchase a hum vessel, which can also be quite impressive in size. Locals used it to store water; tourists buy such things as interior items for country houses and summer cottages. The village of Rishtan offers vessels shaped like a duck, also very beautifully painted, in the drawing there are flowering almonds and pomegranate fruits. From above, the product is "glazed" using the local herb gulob, which grows in the foothills of the Tien Shan. The secrets of a shiny coating are still kept secret and passed down from generation to generation.
Cheerful Nasreddin and Uzbek beauty
The most famous character of Uzbek fairy tales and legends is Nasreddin, he always got out of any difficult situation with dignity. Today, he is one of the most popular heroes featured in souvenirs. Funny figurines of the witty and resourceful hero compete for the hearts of tourists with other visiting cards of Uzbekistan, first of all, with the ships of the desert - camels. You can buy one cute animal and a whole caravan, of any size and from different materials.
Among the souvenirs, candlesticks and terracotta figures of dragons also attract the attention of foreign travelers. They resemble the famous finds of Uzbek archaeologists who conducted research in ancient Marakanda. Women-tourists are more likely to appreciate the hand-made embroidery of Uzbek craftswomen, here in the first place are suzane - embroidered carpets, which contain well-known symbols - the sun, moon, stars, plants. It is important that one curl on the carpet remains not embroidered, which means that a happy life awaits the new mistress.
Traditional outfits
The Uzbek national dress is very beautiful, complex and expensive, so not every tourist will dare to buy a complete set. Most often, foreign guests prefer to buy the following items from a suit: skullcap (bestseller); zarchapan, men's robe, embroidered with gold thread; camisole, women's dressing gown, sewn from hand-made silk velvet.
Instead of traditional outfits or individual elements of the Uzbek national costume, you can buy precious jewelry or chic costume jewelry. Uzbek women have long wore beautiful massive necklaces and bracelets, complemented by carnelian and turquoise. Today you can choose one piece of jewelry to commemorate your journey to an oriental fairy tale, or acquire a whole set. Travelers who love surprises can be advised to buy a necklace with a "tumor", a cylindrical or triangular case, where you can hide a talisman, a prayer or a note with a love confession.
A real men's souvenir is a pichok knife made by local skilled blacksmiths from steel. A brass emblem is applied to each such copy, the master is proud of each made knife and confirms the authorship. Uzbekistan is an ancient country that has preserved unique crafts, utilitarian items created by local craftsmen are becoming real works of art.
