Introduction

The Shia Ismaili Muslims are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the world, united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (known to the Ismailis as Mawlana Hazar Imam) as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader), and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

 

Articles related to: Tajikistan

For students in IIS Graduate Programme, the whole world is a field for study

Horizons al-Ummah, a youth summer camp, provided an ideal field study on the development of Ismaili Muslim identity. Photo: Zuleikha Haji

This past summer, students of The Institute of Ismaili Studies’ Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) travelled to seven different locations across the globe as part of their field research projects. Zuleikha Haji and Sehr Tejpar share accounts from two sides of the globe.

more »

Mawlana Hazar Imam departs Tajikistan

As he departs the Dushanbe Serena Hotel, Mawlana Hazar Imam waves at members of the Jamat gathered across the street. Photo: Gary Otte

Dushanbe, 1 November 2011 — Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to Tajikistan drew to a close today. Following the inauguration of the Dushanbe Serena Hotel, members of the Jamat gathered across the street to bid farewell to Hazar Imam as he departed the Serena.

more »

Dushanbe Serena Hotel is opened by Mawlana Hazar Imam and the President of Tajikistan

Mawlana Hazar Imam and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon cut the ribbon to officially open the Dushanbe Serena Hotel, as Prince Rahim, AKDN Resident Representative Munir Merali and Prince Amyn watch. Photo: Mikhail Romanyuk

Dushanbe, 1 November 2011 — Mawlana Hazar Imam and President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, inaugurated a new Serena Hotel in the heart of Dushanbe, the Tajik capital. Prince Amyn and Prince Rahim were present for the ceremony, as were dignitaries from the government, development and tourism sectors.

more »

President of Tajikistan hosts dinner for Mawlana Hazar Imam

Mawlana Hazar Imam, President Rahmon, Prince Amyn and Prince Rahim together with artists who performed during a dinner hosted by the President in honour of Hazar Imam’s visit to Tajikistan. Photo: Gary Otte

Dushanbe, 31 October 2011 — The President of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon hosted a dinner in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam's visit at the Saodat Teahouse (chaikhana). Prince Amyn and Prince Rahim were also present at the dinner, which featured performances of music, dance and song by a number of Tajik artists.

more »

Mawlana Hazar Imam joins leaders of Tajikistan and Afghanistan to lay foundation of fifth cross-border bridge

At the foundation ceremony of the Shurobod Bridge, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon presented Mawlana Hazar Imam, Afghan Minister of Public Works Abdulkudus Hamidi and German Ambassador to Afghanistan Ruedeiger Koenig with ceremonial robes to mark the occasion. Photo: Gary Otte

Showun, Shurobod District, Tajikistan, 31 October 2011 — Mawlana Hazar Imam, together with the President of Tajikistan and Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Works, performed the foundation-stone ceremony for the Shurobod Bridge. The bridge is the fifth to be built in partnership with the AKDN, and will connect the Shurobod District of Khatlon Region in Tajikistan with the Khohon Province of Afghanistan.

more »

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Tajikistan to open Dushanbe Serena

Mawlana Hazar Imam is welcomed to Tajikistan by LIF Member Dr Sharofat Mamadambarova and ITREC Chairman Dr Mamadsho Ilolov, as AKDN Resident Representative Munir Merali looks on. Photo: Gary Otte

Dushanbe, 30 October 2011 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Tajikistan today for the inauguration of the Dushanbe Serena Hotel. Prince Rahim and Prince Amyn had arrived earlier, and will also participate in the opening ceremony.

more »

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds town hall meeting at Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives at the Ismaili Centre, and is received by AKDN Resident Representative Munir Merali and Muzaffar Djorubov, Executive Officer of the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe

Dushanbe, 22 October 2011 — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe today, where she held a town hall meeting to help promote the US-sponsored New Silk Road Initiative. Several hundred people attended the gathering, including various members of Tajikistan’s civil society, local and international development organisations, media outlets, representatives of the AKDN and Jamati leaders.

more »

On Eid ul-Fitr, the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe hosts its first Jamati celebration

Volunteers prepare to welcome the Jamat to the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr. Photo: Bijan Teja

As Ismaili families in Dushanbe prepared to observe Eid ul-Fitr in the traditional manner, excitement brewed at the prospect of the Jamat coming together to celebrate the occasion at the new Ismaili Centre for the first time ever. The gathering proved a momentous and moving experience for all.

more »

Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa inspires Central Asian youth while developing their potential

The Tajik students together with Les Wilkins, the Head of the Junior School, dressed in traditional Pamiri outfits for the Junior School Assembly celebrating Navroz. Photo: Courtesy of the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa

Thousands of kilometres from Khorog, on the other side of the vast Indian Ocean, is the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa. Eight Tajik students were recently given the opportunity to attend the residential school, and are are now benefiting from a multicultural student body, experienced educators and state-of-the-art facilities.

more »

Navroz celebrated for the first time at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe

In March 2011, Navroz was celebrated for the first time at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. Photo: Courtesy of AKDN Tajikistan

In celebration of Navroz, the Aga Khan Development Network hosted a reception at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. Over 300 people attended the celebration, which was held on 20 March 2011 and was the first Navroz event ever held at the Centre.

more »

To Khorog with love — Sharing the joy of skating half-way around the world

Just outside Khorog Park, a group of Tajik girls show off the new ice skates that will be available for use when the park pond freezes over in the winter. Photo: Courtesy of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Since its inauguration in 2009, Khorog City Park in Tajikistan has become a popular year-round destination. Even in the deep freeze of the winter, children zipped through the park last year, laughing and throwing snowballs. But this winter, Khorog’s frozen pond will also come alive, as the joy of ice skating is shared between young Ismailis in Tajikistan and Canada, half a world away.

more »

Imamat Day in Tajikistan marks 15 years of engagement in the country’s development

Volunteers hard at work setting up displays for the AKDN Exhibition at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. Photo: Natasha Merali

On 11 July, the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe was the venue for an Imamat Day reception hosted by the Aga Khan Development Network in Tajikistan. The event, which also marked the 15th anniversary of the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation between the Government of Tajikistan and the AKDN, included a cultural show as well as a three-day exhibition of AKDN’s projects in the country during the past 15 years.

more »

Pamirs provide an enchanting backdrop to learn about the Jamat in Tajikistan

A statue of Nasir Khusraw with the Pamir Mountains rising behind him. Photo: Janet Southern

Recalling her visit to Tajikistan last summer, Janet Southern shares her experience of being immersed in Pamiri culture, as she lived and worked in Khorog for two months. Embraced by the warm hospitality of her hosts, she observes how community tradition is contributing to self-sustained economic development.

more »

First Ismaili Centre in Central Asia Opens

Mawlana Hazar Imam and President Rahmon share a joyful moment, following the unveiling of the plaque marking the inauguration of the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. Photo: Gary Otte

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 12 October 2009 — His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and His Excellency President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, jointly inaugurated the first Ismaili Centre in Central Asia — a region that has been home to Ismaili Muslims for more than a thousand years.

more »

Mawlana Hazar Imam opens “a park for all seasons” in the Khorog city centre

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives at Khorog Park together with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan and the Governor of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. They are accompanied by the General Manager of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the AKDN Resident Representative for Tajikistan. Photo: Gary Otte

A newly revitalised Khorog City Park was inaugurated on 10 October 2009 by First Deputy Prime Minister Asadullo Gulomov of the Republic of Tajikistan, in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam. The Park is a significant new green space that will serve the residents of the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region in Tajikistan.

more »

Imamat Day celebrations in Tajikistan feature education-themed reception

Some of the Aga Khan Scouts at the Imamat Day Reception gather for a photograph. Photo: Rafiq Dhanji

In Tajikistan, the celebration of Roz-e Takht Nishini has traditionally included family and neighbourhood gatherings with shared meals, music and dancing. This year, the AKDN Resident Representative Office contributed to the festivities by hosting an education-themed reception.

more »

Volunteer search and rescue team is the highlight of FOCUS event

The audience applauds members of the FOCUS Search and Rescue Team, who presented at an event celebrating the 15th anniversary of the organisation. Photo: Meena Badhrudin

In May, Focus Humanitarian Assistance celebrated its 15th anniversary with An Evening with Focus, held at the Ismaili Centre, London. The event created awareness of the integral role that FOCUS and its volunteers play in communities around the world.

more »

Young Ismaili travellers discover their history and heritage

Delegates visited the Citadel of Aleppo in Syria. Photo: Navroz Mitha

Last year, a group of young Ismailis from around the world undertook a unique expedition. Through the Heritage Discovery Programme, they explored the physical, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of centuries of Ismaili legacy.

more »

Civic participation and institutional expertise assist villages in Tajikistan to prepare for natural disaster

In the Ghund Valley of Shugnan district in 2004, community members engage in a mapping exercise to gauge their preparedness for potential disasters. Photo: Courtesy of FOCUS

Thousands of families living in Tajikistan experience earthquakes and other hazards throughout the year that impact their lives and livelihoods. Focus Humanitarian Assistance strives to reduce the impact of natural disasters through community-based initiatives.

more »

Central Asia visit diary

The AKDN Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, Nurjehan Mawani, bids farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam at Manas International Airport. Photo: Gary Otte

During a ten-day visit to Central Asia, Mawlana Hazar Imam visited Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, where he met with senior government and institutional leaders, and assessed the development of the University of Central Asia as well as other AKDN and Imamat projects. In Tajikistan, Hazar Imam granted Golden Jubilee Darbars at Ishkashim and Porshinev, and layed the foundation for the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in Khorog.

more »

Speech at the Foundation Ceremony of The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, Khorog

Describing a vision for Khorog as “the Jewel of the Pamir,” Mawlana Hazar Imam delivers his address at the foundation laying ceremony for the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in Khorog. Photo: Gary Otte

Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, Khorog on Monday, 3 November 2008

more »

Jamat prepares for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival in Tajikistan

A commemorative Golden Jubilee banner decorates Rudaki Avenue, the main street of Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital. Photo: Moez Visram

The Jamat of Tajikistan is eagerly awaiting the commencement of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit with anticipation and excitement. From sprucing up the streets to holding celebratory community gatherings, members of the Jamat are preparing for the country’s first Darbars in ten years.

more »

Revival of traditional dress in Badakhshan mirrors shifting landscape of cultural influence

Once relegated to folklore and theatre, traditional Pamiri clothing styles are making a comback. Photo: Courtesy of Rukhshona Nazhmidinova

The evolution in choice of dress among the Ismailis of Gorno-Badakhshan in Tajikistan is reflective of wider changes and influences that have affected that society over the past decades. The recent re-emergence of Pamiri dress speaks to a rediscovery of local heritage.

more »

Athletes from around the world arrive to a warm Kenyan welcome

Participants celebrate their arrival in Kenya for the inaugural Golden Jubilee Games. Photo: Akber Dewji (Hakim Sons)

Hundreds of Golden Jubilee Games athletes were greeted upon their arrival at the Games Village on the premises of the Parklands complex in Nairobi. Most had travelled long distances, and for many the journey was their first to Africa.

more »

Road to the Games: Tajikistan Jamat’s volleyball team has a storied past

Tajikistan

The Ismaili women’s volleyball team from Tajikistan is composed of members of the the Badakhshan regional team, recent winners of Tajikistan's 2008 National Volleyball championship. Players describe the history of their team and their aspirations for the Golden Jubilee Games in Nairobi.

more »

Jamat in Badakhshan celebrates Navroz with an historic cross-border concert

Members of the Badakhshan Ensemble performed traditional Pamiri music and dance for the Afghan audience in the spirit of mutual understanding and learning. Photo: Malik Faizullah

In a symbolic expression of their long historic ties and common roots, thousands of Jamati members from the Tajik and Afghan sides of Badakhshan came together for a cross-border concert to celebrate Navroz.

more »

Dushanbe marks Navroz with art exhibition and performances

A family illustrates a traditional Tajik Navroz meal according to the “haft-shin” and “haft-sin” traditions. Photo: Mikhail Romanyuk

A Navroz reception in Dushanbe, Tajikistan drew more than 600 attendees and featured an exhibition of children’s artwork on the theme of Navroz, as well as a performance by 2006 Grammy nominee, the Academy of Maqâm.

more »

AKDN hosts exhibition in Tajikistan

Nafisa Gulshaeva, a staff member of the AKF-supported Institute of Professional Development in Dushanbe, discusses teaching resources with visitors. Photo: AKDN/Michael Romanyuk

Over 5 000 people viewed informative exhibits, listened to traditional Tajik music, and examined locally-developed products as part of a two-day exhibition on the work of the Aga Khan Development Network in Tajikistan.

more »

Spiritual Sounds of Central Asia

Ulzhan Baibussynova and Ardak Issataeva play the dombra and sing traditional Kazakh songs. Photo: Aftab Chagani

A profile of the AKMICA sponsored concert tour in the USA which featured three musical traditions from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Each tradition displayed a common thread that linked the cultures with music that has been used to express social identity and preserve spiritual beliefs.

more »

Forays into the global village

Sabeen Virani in Aleppo at the Church of St. Simeo. Photo: Provided by Sabeen Virani

Sabeen Virani talks about the growing phenomenon of young people across North America going overseas to study, work, or volunteer. She recounts her own experience in Syria as well as other individuals’ ventures to places like Sudan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Uganda.

more »

 
 
Sharing Options:  Email this page Email    Print this page Print    Bookmark and Share Bookmark & Share
This is the official website of the Ismaili Muslim Community © Islamic Publications Limited 2009. Terms and Conditions