عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Darah Organizes Two Holy Mosques Exhibition, Arabic Manuscripts Seminar in Turkmenistan 

Officials are seen at the event on Wednesday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the event on Wednesday. (SPA)
TT
TT

Darah Organizes Two Holy Mosques Exhibition, Arabic Manuscripts Seminar in Turkmenistan 

Officials are seen at the event on Wednesday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the event on Wednesday. (SPA)

The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, "Darah," organized a seminar on "Arabic manuscripts in Turkmenistan" in partnership with the Saudi embassy in Ashgabat. The seminar began Wednesday and runs through August 4.

The inaugural session of the seminar was conducted under the patronage of Turkmenistan Minister of Culture Atageldi Shamyradov. Present at the event were Saudi ambassador to Turkmenistan Said bin Osman Al-Suwaid; Darah chief executive Turki Al-Shuwaier; and director of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts in Turkmenistan Dawud Orazsahedov.

Shamyradov extended a warm welcome to the Saudi delegation and highlighted an exhibition, held along with the seminar, that is displaying the heritage of the Two Holy Mosques over time, including the aesthetics of manuscripts and their historical significance.

He hailed these proceedings as a symbolic step that signifies the ongoing efforts towards cultural understanding between both nations while reflecting their strong and amicable relations. He also emphasized the distinctive position of Saudi Arabia in Turkmenistan's foreign policy.

Shamyradov highlighted the significance of the exhibition focusing on the Two Holy Mosques in introducing Islamic sanctities as well as national, cultural, and civilizational values from the Kingdom to the Turkmen people and the world.

The exhibition dedicated to the Two Holy Mosques featured various sections, including displays highlighting the Year of the Camel, Arabic calligraphy, and Saudi coffee traditions.

Saudi Ambassador Al-Suwaid underscored the mutual commitment of both nations to boost their deep ties, commending Darah for its efforts in preserving and showcasing the historical documentation of the Kingdom within the context of Islamic history.

Orazsahedov expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia's organization of the seminar, emphasizing its cultural significance in acquainting the Turkmen community with the rich heritage and cultural identity of Saudi Arabia through the lens of cultural exchange.

The event witnessed the screening of a documentary film focusing on the relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Riding Subway Cars of 1930s New York, and Dressing the Part

People wait to ride the Holiday Nostalgia Train in New York on December 8, 2024. (AFP)
People wait to ride the Holiday Nostalgia Train in New York on December 8, 2024. (AFP)
TT
TT

Riding Subway Cars of 1930s New York, and Dressing the Part

People wait to ride the Holiday Nostalgia Train in New York on December 8, 2024. (AFP)
People wait to ride the Holiday Nostalgia Train in New York on December 8, 2024. (AFP)

Nearly a century after the New York subway introduced its iconic "R1-9" fleet, the agency is putting some of the railcars back into service -- and city residents are jumping on board.

The Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA), which operates the Big Apple's sprawling -- and sometimes detested -- subway system, is reintroducing R1-9s onto the tracks for a limited time, complete with early 20th century accoutrements.

In one car, for instance, a 1960s-style advertisement pays tribute to "the late president" next to a black-and-white photo of John F. Kennedy.

The blast from the past -- made possible through a collaboration between the MTA and the Transit Museum -- is being celebrated by New Yorkers, with some dressing up to match the part.

On a cold December Sunday morning, travelers in period-appropriate costume stand alongside passengers in contemporary fashion, forming a delightfully anachronistic mix.

Latoya Fulton, a 40-year-old Bronx native who brought her daughter along to share the experience, savors the nostalgia.

"I remember riding the train with my mom, going to Yankee Stadium," she told AFP. "I remember just being, just happy looking out the window when we went outside for the outside stop."

Paddle ceiling fans swirl overhead and incandescent light bulbs lend a theatrical vibe.

With no public address system on the vintage trains, a volunteer crewmember is left to call out the approaching stops.

- 'Test of time' -

Rider Fox Hutson dons a military cap and camouflage jumpsuit for the journey, dressing as if he were a US soldier returning from war.

"The past is going away, but this is the only way to preserve it and see some nice people," the 53-year-old photographer said. "It's a test of time, and these things still work."

Though the R1-9 train cars were widespread for decades since being introduced in the 1930s, they were fully withdrawn from service by 1977.

The cars represent a touchstone in US history, inspiring artists like jazz legend Duke Ellington with his song "Take the A Train."

"This was the first mass transit that grew the city," said Todd Glickman, a volunteer with the Transit Museum.

"It used to be in the early part of the 1900s, people would have to live very close to where they worked and where they went to school," he went on to explain.

"And because of the advent of the subway system in 1904, people could travel in a short amount of time and that's what created the growth of the city."