Anadolu University’s Turkic World Application and Research Center in Eskişehir hosted an exhibition on March 8 featuring traditional women’s attire from the Turkic world in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The event was inaugurated with a musical performance by artists from the Yesevi Art Ensemble, which operates under Ahmet Yesevi University. The exhibition was jointly organized by TÜRKSOY and Anadolu University.

In her opening speech, Associate Professor Aysel Kaya, Director of the Turkic World Application and Research Center, expressed gratitude to TÜRKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev for his contributions. “We are honored to gather here to celebrate International Women’s Day. As the Turkic World Application and Research Center, we are delighted to organize both the Yesevi Art Ensemble’s concert and this exhibition reflecting the cultural heritage of the Turkic world,” Kaya said.

Speaking on behalf of TÜRKSOY, Güler Fedai welcomed art enthusiasts attending the event and conveyed the greetings of TÜRKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev. She provided a brief overview of TÜRKSOY’s founding, its member states, and its mission. Fedai also highlighted the significance of the TÜRKSOY Photography Gatherings, where photographs from these meetings are compiled into an album and exhibited both in Türkiye and other member states.

“Welcome to our exhibition dedicated to International Women’s Day, held at the distinguished Anadolu University in Eskişehir. This day is significant as it honors the devoted women who educate and nurture us. I extend my best wishes for health, happiness, and peace to all women on this occasion. I would also like to thank the rector of Anadolu University, the administration of the Turkic World International Application and Research Center, and the Yesevi Art Ensemble for making this exhibition possible. We hope to continue our collaboration in the future,” Fedai stated.

Following the speeches, Sagınış Nazar, an official from the TÜRKSOY Communications and IT Department, introduced the exhibition and provided detailed explanations of the traditional clothing to the guests.

The event continued with a musical journey that celebrated the unity of the Turkic world. The Yesevi Art Ensemble opened their performance with “6 States, 1 Nation,” followed by the well-known Dombra, a piece sung in the Nogai dialect, believed to have been used as a war anthem by the Göktürks.

The program featured Kazakh and Kyrgyz dances, and Ayımgül Bissembayeva played “Köroğlu” on the dombra, a piece composed by Dauletkerey. The event continued with a performance by Kyrgyzstan’s Honored Artist Gulira Kasymkulova, who sang “Sarı Oy.” The final performance featured Kazakh singer Malika Aldamzharova.

At the conclusion of the event, TÜRKSOY’s Acting Director of Culture and Arts, Güler Fedai, presented TÜRKSOY souvenirs to Associate Professor Aysel Kaya and Hülya Metin, General Artistic Director of the Yesevi Art Ensemble, in recognition of their contributions.