Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Baku, November 12 /Xinhua/ — "This year I harvested about 10 tons of pomegranates and am very pleased with the harvest. 'Gyulosha' and 'shihbaba' are very famous here. They are juicy and delicious, and customers love them," Khagani Salehov, one of the farmers displaying his produce at the 16th Pomegranate Festival in the city of Goychay, Goychay District, Azerbaijan, told Xinhua News Agency correspondents.
Kh. Salehov has been growing and selling pomegranates for over 30 years and is a regular participant in this festival, which was first held in 2006. This year, the Pomegranate Festival was celebrated on November 9 at the Goychay City Stadium, where over 60 stands featuring various pomegranate varieties were set up. The festival was organized by the Goychay District Executive Authority with the support of the State Tourism Agency and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan.
"The birthplace of the pomegranate is Goychay. The Pomegranate Festival has become a trademark in our horticulture and fruit growing industries. This fruit helps local farmers supplement their family income," said Zivyar Zeynalova, Deputy Head of the Goychay District Executive Authority in Azerbaijan.
On the day of the festival, performers dressed in pomegranate costumes sang and danced at the stadium entrance, welcoming guests from across Azerbaijan and abroad. A temporary stage hosted competitions—who could squeeze juice by hand the fastest and who could hold a heavy basket of pomegranates the longest. Stands featured juices, jams, wine, salads, and other pomegranate products, as well as paintings, carvings, ceramics, and handicrafts dedicated to this fruit.
"It's great when people from different countries get to know each other's traditions. We have special fruits and dishes—they're distinctive in both appearance and taste. I think foreign guests should try them," said Fidan Gabilova, a tourist from Baku who came to the festival.
Nearly 70 varieties of pomegranate are grown in the Goychay district, and the region is widely known for the high quality of its fruit. Azerbaijanis have long cultivated pomegranates, considering them the "king of fruits." In 2020, UNESCO inscribed the Azerbaijani Pomegranate Festival, its traditional festival, and its culture on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"This festival is very important because it brings people together, has fun, and has the opportunity to showcase our culture. Pomegranates symbolize abundance, health, prosperity, unity, and joy," said Arzu Chiragi, a 19-year-old student at the Goychay State Management and Technological College.
The peak pomegranate harvest in the Goychay district occurs in late October and early November. According to data, approximately 50,000 tons of pomegranates are grown annually in the Goychay district on an area of approximately 4,000 hectares. According to Z. Zeynalova, Goychay pomegranates are in high demand and are exported primarily to Russia, Georgia, and Central Asian countries.
"China is a huge market. We want Geychay garnets to reach there too," she added.
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