Independence Day of Turkmenistan ( tk, Garaşsyzlyk baýramy, Гарашсызлык бaйрaмы) is the main state holiday in

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

. This date is celebrated in Turkmenistan annually on September 27.

History

The

Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (, ; russian: Туркменская Советская Социалистическая Республика, ''Turkmenskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika''), also commonly known as Turkmenistan o ...

participated in the

referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

held in March 1991 in an attempt to preserve the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

as a renewed federation called the Union of Sovereign States, a referendum in which 98.26% of voters approved. Following the events of the failed coup that took place in August, the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmenistan decided to adopt the law "About Independence and Bases of a State System of Turkmenistan", effectively declaring its independence on 27 October 1991. After disintegration of the USSR, the Turkmen SSR became one of the last republics in the former Soviet Union to proclaim state sovereignty. In 2018, the government of Turkmenistan voted to move the date exactly a month back to September 27.

Celebrations

When it comes to formal protocol, there is a ceremony of laying flowers at the Independence Monument, followed by a massive

military parade A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. The military parade is now almost entirely ceremonial, though soldiers from time immemorial up until the la ...

on the central square of

Ashgabat Ashgabat or Asgabat ( tk, Aşgabat, ; fa, عشق‌آباد, translit='Ešqābād, formerly named Poltoratsk ( rus, Полтора́цк, p=pəltɐˈratsk) between 1919 and 1927), is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. It lie ...

. The military parade is followed by the mass procession of representatives of the five provinces, capital of Ashgabat, as well as workers in various branches of Turkmenistan's economy. On Independence Day, a tradition of awarding outstanding citizens and cultural figures state awards is common practice. World leaders such as the

President of Russia The president of the Russian Federation ( rus, Президент Российской Федерации, Prezident Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is the head of state of the Russian Federation. The president leads the executive branch of the federal ...

and the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

typically deliver congratulations to the Turkmen nation. In many cities of the country, festive events and concerts are held. Salutes and fireworks in honor of independence are also traditional events. The holiday is celebrated with festivities on September 27.

Notable individual commemorations

* On the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of independence, a

was held for the first time since the

fall of the USSR The dissolution of the Soviet Union, also negatively connoted as rus, Разва́л Сове́тского Сою́за, r=Razvál Sovétskogo Soyúza, ''Ruining of the Soviet Union''. was the process of internal disintegration within the Sov ...

. The parade took place on Makhtumkuli Avenue in Ashgabat and was commanded by Minister of Defence, Colonel General Dangatar Kopekov. * In 1997, the

Pakistan Army Armoured Corps The Armoured Corps ( ur, ﺁرمرڈ كور) of the Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist f ...

Centre Band from Nowshera took part in the celebrations. *In 2005, a Mother and Child Center, a new building of the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry as well as a new apartment house was opened in southern Ashgabat. *The International Equestrian Sports Complex was opened on the holiday in 2011. *By the 30th anniversary in 2021, 30 million trees will have been planted in accordance with the corresponding resolution signed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Gallery

File:Independence Day Parade - Flickr - Kerri-Jo (17).jpg, A

in Ashgabat. File:Independence Day Parade - Flickr - Kerri-Jo (112).jpg, An

honor guard A guard of honour ( GB), also honor guard ( US), also ceremonial guard, is a group of people, usually military in nature, appointed to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, ...

performance in Ashgabat. File:Ahal Velayat Hippodrome - Flickr - Kerri-Jo (97).jpg, The opening of International Equestrian Sports Complex by

Akja Nurberdiýewa Akja Tajiyevna Nurberdiyeva or Akja Täjiýewna Nurberdiýewa (born 1957) is a Turkmen politician who has served as the Chairperson of the Assembly of Turkmenistan from 2006 to 2018. She replaced Öwezgeldi Ataýew Öwezgeldi Ataýew ( rus, links ...

in 2011.

References

{{reflist September observances Public holidays in Turkmenistan

1991 establishments in Turkmenistan