Today, on the eve of Shashmaqom Day a “Shashmaqom” international festival-symposium was launched in the city of Dushanbe with the participation of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.

This year’s celebration of Shashmaqom Day began in the big hall of Opera and ballet theatre named after Sadriddin Ayni with holding of solemn concert of masters and youngsters performing Shashmaqom.

It should be reminded that on 12^th of May 2000 President Emomali Rahmon issued a decree on further development of Shashmaqom art and granting Shashmaqom ensemble named after Fazliddin Shahobov under the Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting under the Government of Tajikistan a public status. Since that year Shashmaqom Day is marked on these spring days by holding colorful concert programmes of masters and performers of this supreme ancient art.

A bit later Shashmaqom was included by UNESCO to the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

At the end of the concert programme President Emomali Rahmon congratulated the cultural community of the country on the opening of “Shashmaqom” international festival-symposium and highly appraised the supreme art of directors and performers of such a colorful programme.