Srinagar: Progressive Literary & Cultural Society (PLCS) organized an e-seminar on Lazgi: The Dance of Love and Soul earlier this week on a virtual platform.
Dr. Shamenaz, Founder and President of PLCS, inaugurated the event by introducing the participants and guests from Uzbekistan. She also introduced Md Sajid Hussain, a student at JNU, who served as the event’s moderator.
Taking over from her, Sajid Hussain introduced the event and the guest profiles in the Uzbek language.
He welcomed esteemed guests, including Professor Shuhrat Tukhtasinov (Rektor, State Academy of Choreography, Tashkent), Bekzod Abdirimov (Head, Department of Khorezm, Tashkent), and Asror Allayarov (Poet, Editor & Journalist, Kashkadarya).
Sajid then invited speakers Gavhar Matyukubova, Hulkar Hamraeva (Senior Lecturer, State Academy of Choreography, Tashkent), and Dr. Shamenaz one by one.
The first speaker, Gavhar Matyakubova (People Artist of Uzbekistan), spoke about Lazgi dance, its history, and its connections with various nations.
Lazgi belongs to the Khorezm school of dance and mirrors the entire society of the Khorezm region, expressing the natural conditions of its people.
Lazgi was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2019, leading to increased popularity worldwide.
Gavhar Matyakubova expressed pride in Lazgi’s global recognition and discussed her efforts to promote it in Uzbekistan and abroad, including organizing events like the “Indo-Uzbek Literary & Cultural Fest” in collaboration with St. John’s College in January 2023. She has authored books and monographs on Lazgi, inspiring teachers and artists.
The next speaker, Hulkar Hamraeva, emphasized the unique research aspect of dances, highlighting cultural ties.
She shared insights from her doctoral studies in world ethnography, focusing on Lazgi dance, national values, the history of Khorezm, and Uzbekistan. Hamraeva discussed the global promotion of Lazgi by the State Art Academy of Choreography of Uzbekistan and participation in international programs in Central countries like Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
The third speaker, Dr. Shamenaz, discussed two Uzbek books on Lazgi translated into Hindi: “History of Khorezm Lazgi Dance” and “The Masterpiece of Khorezm” by Gavhar Matyokubova and Hulkar Hamraeva.
She thanked them and highlighted Lazgi’s ancient roots, its recognition as an immaterial world heritage in 2019, and its links to Zoroastrian time, early creation myths, and totemic beliefs.
Dr. Shamenaz expressed the intention of her organization, Progressive Literary & Cultural Society, to organize an “Indo-Uzbek Dance Festival” in New Delhi in the future. Her speech was live-translated into Uzbek by Sajid.
After all the speakers had spoken, Dilnoza Artiqova, a student of Gavhar Matyokubova, discussed efforts to introduce Khorezm dance to the world.
She invited cultural exchange and expressed interest in Indian dance, particularly Kathak. In conclusion, Prof. Shahnaz Khan (Government College, Pandhurna, India) proposed a vote of thanks. The event was attended by scholars and students from both India and Uzbekistan.
