Turkmen-style needlework is a decorative applied art used on the national dress of people of all genders and ages in Turkmenistan and Iran. In both countries, Turkmen-style needlework begins with the preparation of thin silk threads that are intertwined in three layers and twisted into a single thread, then straightened with a large needle. This unique technique gives the thread a shine. For the most common needlework style, a series of loops are created by piercing the fabric with a thin needle and holding the previous loop with the thumb of the other hand. There are also other needlework styles that vary according to the region. There is no age limit, and young girls traditionally learn the needlework from their mothers and grandmothers. In rural areas, the patterns used reveal the territorial identity of the needlewomen. They are also used to symbolize love, friendship, nature and strength. The needlework is used on wedding clothes, in clothing for funerals and cultural events, and as decorative parts of ordinary clothing, such as scarves, coats, pants, shawls and accessories.

The UNESCO’s cultural agency’s committee is holding the session in the Moroccan capital Rabat from November 28 until December 2.

The committee decided to accept Iran’s and Syria’s nomination of Crafting and playing the Oud for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on the third day of the session on Wednesday.

The Oud is a pear-shaped and stringed musical instrument, whose melodic and harmonic tones are produced through stopping the frets with the fingers of one hand and plucking the strings with the other.

The history of the Oud dates back to more than 1,500 years ago in the Middle East and Iran where it is an important part of the communities’ identity.   

In Iran, the instrument is mainly used in major cities like the capital Tehran and Shiraz in the south. It is also used in the southern provinces of Khuzestan, Busher and Hormuzgan as well as Kurdistan province in the west.  

Ouds can be played solo or in ensembles.

In Iran, they are played during rituals, wedding ceremonies, cultural events as well as celebrations, festivals and family gatherings.

“Yalda Night,” also known as “Shab-e Chelleh,” observed both in Iran and Afghanistan, goes on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.