Turkmen Alabai Holiday Celebrated on a Grand Scale in Ashgabat
Amul Info · · asgabat, ashgabat
On October 25, Ashgabat hosted exhibitions, creative competitions and the final round of the “Ýylyň türkmen edermen alabaýy — 2026” contest. 🥇 Akgaýa, owned by Ashgabat-based dog breeder A. Bakaýew, won the competition. The grand prize was a Toyota Camry presented on behalf of the President of…
On October 25, ceremonial events dedicated to the national Turkmen Alabai Holiday were held at the Ashgabat Equestrian Sports Complex. The celebrations brought together representatives of government institutions, diplomats, international experts, dog breeders and specialists, members of the International Association “Turkmen Alabai Dogs,” as well as admirers of the Turkmen Alabai breed.
A special exhibition was organized along the main avenue of the equestrian complex to mark the holiday. Skilled artisans from Ashgabat, the city of Arkadag and the country’s regions presented carpets depicting the Turkmen Alabai, paintings, sculptures and jewellery. Works dedicated to the national heritage of the Turkmen people, their ancient traditions and the Turkmen Alabai, regarded as a symbol of loyalty, held a prominent place in the exhibition.
One of the developments that added significance to the celebrations was the inclusion of traditions associated with breeding and raising the Turkmen Alabai on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This international recognition demonstrates that the Turkmen Alabai is not only a national treasure but also an important part of the world’s cultural heritage.
The main event of the holiday programme was the final stage of the “Ýylyň türkmen edermen alabaýy — 2026” (“Brave Turkmen Alabai of the Year — 2026”) competition. Ten Alabai dogs that had advanced through the regional qualifying rounds demonstrated their physical build, level of training, agility, speed and ability to overcome obstacles in the open arena. During the competition, the judging panel assessed the dogs’ individual characteristics and level of preparation.
According to the results, Akgaýa, an Alabai owned by A. Bakayev, a dog breeder from Ashgabat, was awarded the honorary title “Ýylyň türkmen edermen alabaýy — 2026.” The winner received the keys to a Toyota Camry as the grand prize presented by the President of Turkmenistan. A challenge cup, a medal and a certificate of honour were also formally presented to the winner.
As part of the celebrations, the winners of a creative competition dedicated to portraying the Turkmen Alabai through art were also honoured. Outstanding works in carpet weaving, painting, sculpture, design and cinematography were recognized.
A carpet created by A. Gulberdiyev, a representative of the “Turkmenhaly” Production Association, was selected as the best work. In the painting category, “Miras” (“Heritage”), created by S. Osmanov, a student at the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan, won first place. In sculpture, B. Batyrova’s composition “In Praise of the Alabai” received high recognition. Awards were also presented to young designers and cinematographers whose works artistically conveyed the distinctive appearance and character of the Turkmen Alabai.
Thus, the national Turkmen Alabai Holiday became a large-scale event bringing together national traditions, art and dog-breeding expertise. The celebrations played an important role in highlighting the place of the Turkmen Alabai in the country’s cultural heritage, promoting the breed internationally and preserving the longstanding traditions associated with its breeding and upbringing.