Azerbaijan’s Kelaghayi presented in Washington, D.C.
An event dedicated to the art of Azerbaijan’s traditional silk headscarf, the kelaghayi, was held at the Katzen Arts Center of American University in Washington, D.C., marking the 34th anniversary of the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence.
The event was jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum.
As part of the program, ten historical and contemporary kelaghayis from the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum’s collection were showcased, alongside traditional patterned printing plates used in their creation, as well as raw silk materials, and threads. A special video presentation on the art of kelaghayi and a new publication dedicated to the subject were also unveiled.
In his opening remarks, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States Khazar Ibrahim reflected on the country’s remarkable journey over the past three decades. “Nearly thirty years ago, few people knew about Azerbaijan”, he said. “Today, our country stands at the center of global processes. Azerbaijan’s independence, the kelaghayi, and all the values our nation holds dear are deeply interconnected”.
Amina Malikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, highlighted that in 2014, the art of kelagayi was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. She emphasized that the kelaghayi is far more than an elegant accessory or a piece of applied art – it embodies a deep national philosophy and serves a “guardian of memory” passed down through generations. Malikova also noted that this event marked the first-ever presentation of the museum’s collection in Washington, D.C., featuring rare kelaghayis dating from the late 18th to early 20th centuries.
American scholar Paul Taylor underscored the kelaghayi’s cultural and symbolic significance for Azerbaijan and its national identity, noting that its importance has only deepened since independence in 1991. He shared that the motifs and symbolism of kelaghayi continue to inspire various forms of modern art and added that awareness of this heritage remains limited in the English-speaking world – a fact that motivated him to write an article on the subject for Hali magazine.
The evening concluded with a solo piano performance by Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan Nargiz Aliyarova, featuring a selection of works by Azerbijani composers, including Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s “Jangi”, Lala Jafarova’s “Fantasy” inspired by Hajibeyli’s comedy “If Not That One, Then This One”, and Gara Garayev’s “Beauty of the Beautiful” and “Ayishe’s Dance” from the ballet “Seven Beauties”. The program also included “Dance of the Passionate Girl” from the ballet “Thunderous Paths”, Faig Sujaddinov’s “Ballad of the Homeland”, and the beloved Azerbaijani folk song “Sari Gelin” (Blonde Bride).
