Memorial Days in Turkmenistan
There are three memorial days in Turkmenistan. They are the days when people who have been killed in wars, national disasters are remembered. On these days public prayers in the mosques are held.
Earthquake Victim's Memorial Day
A
terrible calamity struck Ashgabat on October 6 in 1948. This earthquake
almost totally destroyed the city and some villages near it. Several violent
earth tremors turned the city into a massive heap of ruins. Only a few
buildings were not destroyed in the city.
About 110 thousand people lost during this earthquake. The wounded were cured in Ashgabat or sent to Moscow, Tashkent, Baky. Our President's mother and two brothers were the victims of that terrible earthquake too.
It was a great loss for the Turkmen people after the war. People from many countries and cities came to Ashgabat to help us on those difficult days. Drugs, food and construction materials were delivered to the city by air and by rail.
Every year on October 6 the Turkmen people mark Earthquake Victim's Memorial Day to pay a great tribute to the victims of the earthquake.
If They Could Return
by S.N. Niyazov
translated by Gazaryan E.B.
Equal disasters are earthquake and flood
In wars are shed thousand people's blood
From disasters suffer milliion's of life
Will they return? But where and when?
My house is ruined, my heart isn't bright
The earthquake has broken my soul and heart
I've lost my mother. Forever she went
To her sacred memory my head is bent
Many years ago my father went to war
Since then I have not seen him more
I am mourning his death. He is my Dad
After all I'm of his flesh. I am of his blood.
I miss my brothers. But where are they?
They've turned into angels and flew away.
They may be in heavens. Do they look back?
Oh, Allah. Help me bring them back.
My elder brother was Niyazmurat
The youngest among us was Mukhametmurat
Murat means - goal. And I surely would
Bring them to life, if only I could.