Tajikistan

Here is a presentation of the food, clothing, musical instruments and artifacts of Tajikistan that I hope to share!

I can bring some of the artifacts (such as suzanis, topis and the traditional dolls from Tajikistan) to showcase and will also be able to cook some traditional dishes (such as Plov) with ingredients from Oregon - very much looking forward to cooking!

Where is Tajikistan?

Suzani

The literal definition of suzani is "needlework" and refers to the type of embroidered textile that is made in Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan.

Topi

The traditional hat in Tajikistan is called the Topi and different regions have different versions of the Topi. The image below is of a Pamir topi from the Gorno-Badakhshan province.

Karnay

The karnay is a long trumpet (typically 7 feet long) with a mouthpiece and it is Tajikistan's national instrument. It is mostly played on national holidays and weddings.

National dolls (lukhtak)

The lukhtaks are made of textiles, wood, needles and paint, and make for embroidery souvenirs. Traditional doll-making has been one of the well-preserved traditions.

Plov (osh)

Plov is the national dish. It is a rice dish made with shredded yellow turnip or carrot, and pieces of meat, all fried together in vegetable oil or mutton fat in a special qazan (a wok-shaped cauldron) over an open flame. The meat is cubed, the carrots are chopped finely into long strips, and the rice is colored yellow or orange by the frying carrots and the oil. The dish is eaten communally from a single large plate placed at the center of the table.

Sambusa

Sambusa is a triangular baked dish with a savoury filling, usually onions with minced lamb or beef but depending on the season they are also filled with wild greens and pumpkin.

Thank you for your time!

I hope to continue to build this website to further showcase the culture of Tajikistan and I also hope that I will have the opportunity to share the culture and tastes of Tajikistan with the UO community at the University of Oregon.