Mejlisi Uns: Visiting the Khan’s Daughter

On March 15, 2019, on the Novruz eve, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum hosted the musical and literary event Mejlisi Uns: Visiting the Khan’s Daughter, dedicated to the life and oeuvre of the renowned Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan.

Alisafa Nuriyev, Head of Shusha Branch of Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, spoke about Khurshidbanu Natavan’s life and oeuvre, and Novruz Holiday.

This event is aimed to reach to a wide audience and inform it about the traditions and customs of Novruz, along with the promotion of the well-known poetess’ valuable and creative activity. Traditionally, over the centuries, Azerbaijanis celebrated Novruz Bayrami solemnly. That was the same in Karabakh, the Heart of Azerbaijan. Here, four pre-holiday Tuesdays and Novruz were celebrated magnificently. The outstanding 19th-century Azerbaijani poetess Khurshudbanu Natavan (Khan Gizi) was born, lived and worked in beautiful Shusha, which is also called The Pearl of Karabakh. She paid great attention to the Novruz celebration, and hosted Majlises, saturated with poetry and music, in each pre-holiday Tuesday.

A film about Khurshidban Natavan, shot at the Aztelefilm studio, was shown at the event. Mejlisi Uns, organized by the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum’s staff, was accompanied by a performance narrating about the national traditions of Azerbaijan during Novruz celebrations. People’s Artist Gulianag Mammadova, as well as students of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts under the guidance of Associate Professor Azada Shukurova performed as part of the concert program, composed of poetess’ works.

It should be noted that the Novruz Holiday was included within the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on November 30, 2009; and on February 23, 2010, the 21st of March was proclaimed as the International Novruz Day at the 64th session of the UN General Assembly.