AMusical genreIndependent states
Katta Ashula
The "great song" of the Fergana Valley, sung by two to five singers holding a tray — UNESCO heritage since 2009.
Katta ashula means "great song": a traditional way of singing from the Fergana Valley in which singers perform without instruments, in turn and together, in very high, powerful voices.
They hold a plate or tray in front of their mouths, which reflects and amplifies the voice and gives it a distinctive timbre. The words are mostly philosophical and religious poems by classical poets.
Regarded as an expression of Uzbek cultural identity, katta ashula was inscribed by UNESCO in 2009.
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Updated: October 3, 2026