Turkmen weave giant carpet to mark two decades of freedom
04 Nov '11
1 min read
To mark the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan's Independence, female carpet weavers in the country have made a 378 sq m giant carpet in a record time of four months.
Said to be the largest in the Turkmenistan's carpet weaving history, it has been weaved by a carpet factory in the town of Serdar. The carpet makers were presented with gifts on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan.
The record for the world's largest handmade carpet was earlier held by 301 sq m “Altyn Asyr”, which was weaved to mark the 10th anniversary of Turkmenistan's Independence. It entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2003.
Previously, the record was held by 193 sq m carpet called “Turkmen Kalby” (the Soul of Turkmens) weaved during the years of the Great Patriotic War (1941-45).
In Turkmenistan, carpet weaving is a matter of national pride, and has been accorded the rank of high art. The five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) that adorn the flag of Turkmenistan reflect the significance of carpet weaving in the lives of Turkmen people.