VZCZCXRO0277
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHAH #1578/01 3421021
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081021Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3859
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
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RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4207
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1294
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4150
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 001578 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF SOCI PGOV TX
SUBJECT:  GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED PILGRIMAGE TO TURKMEN SHRINES 
 
REFS:  A) ASHGABAT 1527;  B) ASHGABAT 1569 
 
ASHGABAT 00001578  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for Internet 
distribution 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Due to alleged concerns about the 
spread of the H1N1 virus, the Turkmen government 
decided to skip sending pilgrims to the Hajj ahead of 
Eid al Adha (Gurban Bayram) holiday, for the first 
time since 1993 (Ref A).  Instead, the government 
organized an internal pilgrimage of a group of 
believers to Turkmen shrines.  During an 18-day 
period, the pilgrims visited 38 shrines in all five 
provinces of the country.  Local mass media provided 
daily coverage of the event.  Although the authorities 
organized the internal pilgrimage because of swine flu 
concerns, locals believe that it will become an annual 
event, in addition to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.  END 
SUMMARY 
 
¶3. (SBU) On November 6, President Berdimuhamedov 
issued a decree on the celebration of Gurban 
Bayramy (Eid al Adha), a major Muslim holiday.  In 
accordance with the decree, November 28 - December 
1 were designated as non-work days.  Gurban 
Bayramy is usually preceded by the Hajj pilgrimage 
to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.  In past years, the 
Turkmen government has annually sent around 180 
pilgrims (one plane load) to Mecca on a government- 
sponsored trip.  This year, however, due to Turkmen 
government concerns about H1N1 virus, the 
government decided not to send Turkmen pilgrims to 
Hajj.  In addition, the government did not provide 
aircraft for charter flights to Mecca for self- 
paying pilgrims as it had in the past.  Instead, 
the government organized a pilgrimage to holy 
shrines in Turkmenistan.  A group of believers, 
consisting of elderly men and women, conducted 
zyyarat ("pilgrimage" in Turkmen) and visited 38 
shrines in all five provinces of the country from 
November 11 to 29.  Upon Presidential order, the 
State Council on Religious Affairs, together with 
offices of provincial governors and Ashgabat 
municipal authorities, organized the pilgrimage and 
provided necessary logistical arrangements. 
 
DASHOGUZ PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE 
 
¶4. (SBU) The pilgrimage started in Dashoguz 
province by visiting the mausoleum of Nejmeddin 
Kubra, an ancient memorial complex "Uch Yuz 
Altmysh" (360 Saints), Ibrahim Edhem, Ashyk Aydyn 
Pir, Mahmyt Zamahshary, Ismamyt ata, and Bilal baba 
shrines.  While in Dashoguz, the pilgrims also 
visited architectural monuments: mausoleum of 
Kutlug-Timur, Tyurabek-hanum, Tekesh, Il-Arslan, 
Seyit Ahmet, and Kyrk molla fortress.  From 
Dashoguz, pilgrims flew to Balkan province. 
 
BALKAN PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE 
 
¶5. (SBU) In Balkan province, pilgrims visited 
Gyozli ata, Aksynly mama shrines, Kaaba-depe 
madrasa, Ancient Dehistan historical complex also 
known as Mashat-Misserian, Shibli baba and Paraw 
bibi shrines, and prayed namaz prayer in Juma 
mosque.  They visited the madrasa where sheikh Ali 
Ibn Sukkari used to teach and the Shir-Kabir mosque 
also known as Mashat mausoleum.  Pilgrims also 
visited Serdar town where currently over 20 new 
social and cultural facilities are being 
constructed.  From Serdar, pilgrims traveled to 
Mary province. 
 
ASHGABAT 00001578  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
MARY PROVINCE PILGIMAGE 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In Mary province, pilgrims visited 
Gurbanguly haji mosque named after President 
Berdimuhamedov.  The mosque opened in 2007.  While 
in Mary, pilgrims held zyyarat to Sahy baba shrine, 
visited "Yeke gowak" historical archaelogical 
monument, Talhatan baba, Ojarly baba, Hoja Yusup 
Hamedany, Bureyde baba shrines, Soltan Sanjar 
mausoleum, "Ancient Merw" historical-cultural 
national park, and "Margush" complex of 
archaelogical memorials.  The pilgrimage then 
continued to Lebap province. 
 
LEBAP PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In Lebap province, the group visited 
Gaynar baba shrine, made an excursion to Koyten-dag 
national park, visited Kyrk gyz shrine and the 
Dinosaur plateau near Hojaypil village.  The 
pilgrims also visited Astana baba, Idris baba, Daya 
hatyn, Abu Muslim shrines and read namaz prayer in 
Abu Yusup mosque in Turkmenabat, the administrative 
center of Lebap province.  From Lebap, pilgrims 
proceeded to Ahal province. 
 
AHAL PROVINCE PILGRIMAGE 
 
¶8.  (SBU) In Ahal province, pilgrims visited Saragt 
baba, Myane baba, Myalik baba, Gyz bibi shrines, 
the Seyitjemaleddin complex of historical monuments 
and Islam Nury mosque in Annau.  They also made an 
excursion to Nisa state historical-cultural 
national park and Geokdepe fortress.  On the final 
day of their pilgrimage in Ahal province, the group 
participated in the ohening ceremony of the newly 
reconstructed Archman and Yyly Suw recreational 
sanatorium complex.  President Berdimuhamedov 
attended the opening ceremony of the sanatoriums 
and hosted the first presidential sadaka 
(ceremonial meal) in honor of Gurban bayramy. 
During the pilgrimage, sadaka dinners were 
organized in all five provinces for health of 
President Berdimuhamedov who had made the 
pilgrimage possible. 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Gurban bayramy is one of the popular 
national holidays in Turkmenistan (Ref B).  Every 
Turkmen family that can afford to prepare a 
sacrificial meal is supposed to cook a meal and 
invite relatives, friends and neighbors to share a 
holiday meal.  Youth is usually entertained by 
music, dances and swinging on large swings set in 
every community.  It is believed that by swinging 
on swings, one atones his/her sins.  Gurban bayramy 
dinner invitees are supposed to have a meal and say 
"Kabul bolsun" (May Allah accept your sacrifice). 
It is believed that to solicit the All Mighty's 
blessings for the next year, one has to visit seven 
houses and share in sacrificial meals at each. 
Turkmens also celebrated Gurban bayramy during the 
Soviet period, although at that time the government 
did not provide days off for celebrating the 
holiday. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) COMMENT:  This year was the first time 
that the government organized a pilgrimage to local 
shrines.  The entire pilgrimage in Turkmenistan 
was covered prominently by local mass media. 
According to some locals, the pilgrimage to 
 
ASHGABAT 00001578  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
local shrines might turn into an annual event, in 
addition to Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. 
Still, no claims were made that the local 
pilgrimage was the spiritual equivalent of the 
Hajj, and popular demand for the Hajj in the future 
will most likely be as strong as ever, once health 
concerns are no longer a factor.  END COMMENT. 
 
ECKSTROM