Message of Congratulations by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Hakimzoda Qurbon, on the Occasion of the Sada Festival
Dear compatriots!
I sincerely congratulate all of you on the arrival of one of the ancient traditions of our noble and long-established nation — the Sada Festival.
State independence provided the ancient Tajik nation with a historic opportunity to revive and celebrate its cultural traditions and national holidays in a new form and spirit. Our ancestral Aryan festivals, such as Sada, reflect the close connection between humankind and nature, traditions related to agriculture and craftsmanship, and embody the finest human values, meanings, and ideals.
It is a matter of great pride for the people of the country, especially for farmers, that the constructive initiatives of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, are unanimously recognized by prestigious international organizations. In particular, by resolutions of the United Nations, the Navruz Festival was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, the Sada Festival in 2023, and the Mehrgon Festival in 2024. Furthermore, in 2025, the “Hisori sheep breed” and the “Pink Toifi grape variety” of the Almosi Valley were included by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The Republic of Tajikistan became the first country in Central Asia whose agricultural products were recognized by GIAHS, and the Almosi Valley, the Hisori sheep breed, and the Toifi grape variety are now being presented internationally as part of Tajikistan’s national agricultural heritage.
With the inclusion of the Sada and Mehrgon festivals in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, their mission and role in strengthening cultural exchange, mutual understanding among Aryan nations, and the promotion of peace and stability among peoples of the world will further increase.
According to researchers of the Sada Festival, Sada stands alongside other national celebrations and is not connected to any particular ethnicity or religion. The roots of Aryan festivals have, since ancient times, been closely linked to nature and the cosmos. Essentially, Sada, as a seasonal celebration, has an inseparable connection with nature and symbolizes the turning toward a new spring and the anticipation of its arrival.
According to traditional Tajik calendars, the Sada Festival marks the end of the “Great Chill” period, indicating that winter and its cold season are gradually coming to an end, while spring and the beginning of agricultural activities are approaching. In this regard, reviving the finest traditions and customs of the past and adapting them to today’s spiritual values, especially amid expanding globalization processes, strengthens our historical consciousness and national identity.
It should also be noted that since the emergence and development of agriculture, the Sada Festival has acquired social and economic significance and has become one of the means of promoting farming and horticultural activities. For this reason, farmers honor this ancient tradition more than any other social group, and perhaps it is precisely the hardworking peasant who has preserved Sada until our time. Therefore, we celebrate Sada as a festival of farmers and gardeners and, in general, as a purely народный tradition, while striving to promote its noble ideas and valuable meanings, including devotion to the Motherland, peace and unity among people, love for nature, and diligent work for prosperity and abundance.
Thus, during these days, our farmers should prepare high-quality seeds and saplings, carry out winter irrigation, clean irrigation canals and drainage systems, prune trees, and complete all necessary preparations for spring sowing in order to ensure a rich harvest.
I firmly believe that the highly complex conditions of the modern world — including transformations in the global economy, disruptions in traditional supply chains, population growth, climate change and its negative consequences such as recurring droughts and water shortages, especially in our region — require us to pay primary attention to improving the agricultural sector, increasing production, developing agro-industrial complexes, and thereby ensuring the country’s food security.
All the achievements in the agricultural sector highlighted in this year’s Address of the Leader of the Nation, Founder of Peace and National Unity, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, have been accomplished precisely through your honest and dedicated labor, patriotic commitment, and tireless efforts, dear farmers.
I would also like to remind you that beautifying and greening the country’s environment, planting flowers and trees along streets and alleys, and keeping homes and neighborhoods clean and orderly are also among the traditions of the Sada Festival. I am confident that our hardworking people will continue and further develop these noble customs as a precious national heritage.
Once again, I sincerely congratulate our dear compatriots and all the people of beloved Tajikistan on the ancient Sada Festival, wishing every family happiness, prosperity, abundance, and joy.
May you always remain healthy and honored!
Happy ancient Sada Festival, dear compatriots!
