September 9: Independence Day in Tajikistan
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Tajikistan.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
The Tajik people are descended from ancient Iranian people who settled in Central Asia. Their land has been part of the empires of Persia and Alexander the Great. They have also had influence from Turkic invaders. The Tajiks were absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century and then became part of the USSR in the 20th century.
Tajikistan declared independence from the Soviet Union on September 9, 1991. Competing factions fought for control of the government during the 1990s. Emomali Rahmon, leader of the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan, has effectively been in control of the government since then.
About 10 million people live in Tajikistan. The majority are Tajiks who speak the official Tajik language. Nearly all are Muslim. The country’s poor economy has prompted many Tajiks to live abroad and send money back home. The country has also played a major role in the international drug trade.
However, one beautiful aspect of Tajik culture is at the center of every meal: the flatbread called non. The cook molds dough into a thick, flat circle about a foot in diameter. She imprints one side with a tool that leaves a beautiful design and then lightly covers the dough with a mixture of salt and water. To bake it she slaps the prepared dough onto the vertical side of a clay firepit oven. The high temperature from the fire holds it in place until it has cooked
Tajikistanis treat non with great respect. While the diner is eating, he must keep the imprinted side up; turning it upside down is considered disrespectful. One does not cover a piece of non with anything except another piece. If someone finds a piece of non on the street, he or she may pick it up, kiss it, touch it to the forehead three times, and then place it on a high ledge for birds to eat. Tajikistanis believe that to leave it on the street would be disrespectful.
People in Gorno-Badakhshan Province celebrate Tajkinstan’s Independence Day on September 9, 2022. Photo by artaxerxes_longhand / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
Watch a family in Tajikistan preparing their traditional flatbread.
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