AMusical genreIndependent states
Bakhshi art
The art of Uzbek bards who sing epics to the dombra or dutar, UNESCO heritage since 2021.
Bakhshi are brothers of the Azerbaijani ashiqs and ozans, reciting epics such as Alpamysh and Koroghlu and folk tales from memory for hours.
Bakhshi of Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya usually play the dombra and sing in a special throaty voice, while those of Khorezm are accompanied by dutar, tar or accordion; the art passes from master to pupil.
UNESCO inscribed Uzbekistan's bakhshi art in 2021, and Termez regularly hosts the International Festival of Bakhshi Art.
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Updated: October 3, 2026