(nCa) - Children from 12 countries sang and danced Wednesday evening at the cozy cradle of Hindwar mountain near Ashgabat to mark the start of the first International Childrens Arts Festival in Turkmenistan.
Ms. Enebay Ataeva, minister of culture and broadcasting of Turkmenistan read a message from President Niyazov to the participants of the festival, reports Trend.
Some 236 children from foreign countries and more than 300 children from Turkmenistan are participating in the festival that will continue for the next seven days in Turkmenbashy, the Caspian coast city of Turkmenistan.
Children would compete in two group categories folklore and dance and two solo categories solo song and painting.
In addition, the foreign children will have two additional categories of competition based on the knowledge of the people and culture of Turkmenistan.
Ministry of culture and broadcasting of Turkmenistan, ministry of education, provincial administration of Balkan province and UNICEF office in Turkmenistan have jointly sponsored the event.
The participating children come from Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Poland.