The Tajik culture in many respects resembles the rest of the culture of the other peoples of Central Asia. But nevertheless the rich historical past of the Tajik culture has left its own traces, with its own characteristics.
Since ancient times, all the ethnic groups present in the territory of present-day Tajikistan contributed elements of their culture, which was assimilated to this day, in what is called the Tajik culture.
So today we find in Tajik culture, a rich and varied set of elements that represent a picturesque picture. Elements of Russian culture, for example, can be found in urban architecture and in the way people dress.
Customs and crafts
In the Tajik culture we find elements of a people with sedentary customs, agricultural and handicraft activities are developed.
Those Tajiks who lived in the plain were engaged in agriculture, but also in livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc.) to a lesser extent, those who lived in the mountains developed other activities, due to the lack of land for farming. agriculture, but livestock did develop.
The craftsmanship of each of these groups will also be different, those of the plains will make cloth, wool, silk cloth, they will also have great skill for jewelry and woodcuts. In the mountains they dedicated themselves above all to the making and weaving of wool and embroidery.
The craftsmanship and the carving of the wood will be very original, also in alabaster and ceramics.
Architecture and decoration
The traditional architecture are rather compact and narrow structures, with labyrinth-shaped streets. In rural areas the houses were built of clay, on the mountain of stone. The houses were divided into two halves, one for women and one for men, currently this division is not taken into account. Inside the walls were decorated with fabrics of different colors, they had practically no furniture, they kept things in trunks, they had lunch on the floor, where they put large rugs and cushions to lie on, the walls were adorned with fabrics and rugs of many colors.
Clothing
Traditional Tajik clothing has its particular characteristics, each region also distinguishes itself from the rest.
The men wear a large shirt, wide pants, are covered with a large robe with cotton material, use a handkerchief at the waist, a small hat or oriental bonnet, leather boots covered with rubber material.
The women wear a long, colorful tunic, also highly decorated pants. They cover their heads with an oriental bonnet and a kerchief.
At present, many of these clothes are preserved in the common people, even in those who live in the city. On national holidays most of the people dress in traditional clothing.
Food
The Tajik food is based mainly on meat (beef, sheep), rice, bread and vegetables. It is a kitchen very rich in calories and fat.
Traditional foods are “plov” (rice stew with meat), shurpo (meat and vegetable soup), mantu (ravioli), sambusa (empanadas). There are also Tajik sweets and pastries.
Literature and folklore
According to andyeducation, Tajik literature is very diverse and has a rich history. One of the ancient writings of literature is the Sorastrian book “Avesta”, which was written in the first centuries of our era and which played a very important role in the life and culture of the Tajik people of that time.
The father of Tajik-Persian literature is considered Abu Abdulo Rudaki (858-941), also of great importance, Firdausi (934-1020), Omar Jaiam (1048-1131), Jafisa Shirasi (1324-1389), Ubaida Zakoni (1270-1369) etc.
A great place occupies, especially during Soviet times, S. Aini, father of Tajik-Soviet literature, which spread in the Tajik language with Cyrillic characters. Tajik folklore is very rich and diverse according to the regions, also in typical instruments of the area.
Music and dance
Tajik music is accompanied by string instruments, percussion, and generally voiced by a single person.
Musical instruments are diverse; string: dutor (two strings) ruvav, tanvur, gidyak, species of violins, nai, karnai and sunai; percussion: kairok, doira (crystal stone) etc. The dance is very expressive, especially in the movement of the hands of women, in general it can be said that the Tajik people are a musical people.