smiling eyes and tired souls who are celebrating one event here and another there.

Türkmen rugs, jewellery and handmade golden and silver products should always be exhibited in those events. Our historical silverware and goldware have come to be the favourites of women as beautiful as fairies. The Türkmen horse should be on view at every event. Our historical silver- and goldware that somehow appear in the world market are priceless. Famous movie artists, theatre stars, famous women of arts and letters would deem it a privilege to own Türkmen-made silver- and goldware.

Pay attention to the jewellery worn by Türkmen girls; the gupba-tuvulga, çekelik-bukav protects the neck from attacks with swords, the gül_aka protects the chest. The bracelet covers the wrist, and various pieces attached on the front and back of dresses prevent injuries from arrows and spears. If the Türkmen girl wears all her jewellery, she becomes like a warrior shielded by her jewellery. Calculations tell us that a woman should be carrying a total of 36 kilograms of silver and gold if she wears all her jewellery. The Türkmen praises the woman highly.

Our forefathers said of the various kinds of saz (musical instruments) that add colour to celebrations and festivals, “Music and celebrations provide guidance for man. The celebration relates to the bodily world, and the music relates to the spiritual world. When combined, the celebration and the music will guide man’s material and spiritual world.”

I wish to say, “If you want to understand the characteristics of the states and nations, listen to their music; if you wish to know of the level of happiness in the family listen and see how songs and music find reflection in that household!” When setting out for warfare, our ancestors