For Tajiks around the world, it is a great joy and pride that on December 6, 2023, during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, by the joint decision of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the festival of "Sada" was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
On January 28, 2025, a scientific conference dedicated to the Sada festival was held in the hall of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan, with wide participation of leaders and staff from scientific institutions subordinate to the Academy, scientists, employees, doctoral and master’s students, researchers of the academy, and representatives of the media.
The event was opened by the Vice-President of the Academy, Faizullo Amirshozoda, who noted that Sada is known in Tajik history as a unifying festival that symbolizes not only respect for nature but also holds important social unifying significance.
Thanks to the independence gained and the continuous efforts of the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, the Sada festival has been revived and is celebrated annually throughout the republic.
Then Majid Salim, an employee of the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Pastures of the Academy, delivered a report on the history and origin of this ancient festival. In particular, he noted that Sada is one of the oldest festivals, celebrated on the 10th day of the month Bahmani according to the solar calendar, which corresponds to the night of January 30-31 in the Gregorian calendar. The Sada festival follows the 40-day period of the longest winter night — Yalda — symbolizing the end of winter cold and the approach of spring.
There are various opinions about the origin of the name "Sada" in historical and literary sources. In mythological sources, the festival’s appearance is attributed to King Khushang, an event described by the great poet Ferdowsi in his "Shahnameh." According to his description, Khushang taught people the art of lighting fire and established the traditions of the Sada festival.
Academicians of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan — Davlatjon Kayumi Komilzoda and Nazrullo Muhammadyusuf from the Institute of Crop Production — spoke, emphasizing that Sada is a festival of farmers as it heralds the approach of Navruz and encourages peasants to actively engage in spring sowing.
At the conclusion of the event, employees of the Academy — Bibioisha Ruzimatova, Sohiba Tagoeva, Zevarsho Kholov, and Mahmadsharif Ghulomali — recited poems by classical Tajik poets dedicated to the Sada festival.
