MAZAR-I-SHARIF, February 15. /Dunyo IA/.  A comprehensive literary and educational evening was held at the “Fajr” radio station in Mazar-i-Sharif to commemorate the 585th anniversary of the birth of the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The event was organized with the aim of strengthening national spiritual heritage among Uzbek compatriots residing in Afghanistan, promoting the legacy of great ancestors and fostering a sense of love for the native language and literature among young people.

Participants included renowned Navoi scholars, cultural figures, members of the public, staff from the Consulate General of Uzbekistan, as well as compatriots living in the provinces of Balkh, Samangan, Jawzjan and Faryab. The event was organized in collaboration with the Information and Culture Department of Balkh Province.

At the opening of the conference, particular attention was given to the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of literature and spiritual heritage.

The head of the “Fajr” radio station, Doctor of Political Science Abdul Rauf Tavono, noted that Alisher Navoi is a valuable and prominent figure not only for the Turkic peoples but for all nationalities and tribes residing in Afghanistan.

He also emphasized that Navoi's ideas on humanism, generosity and the call for science and enlightenment remain relevant today. At the end of his speech, he recited ghazals, which made a profound impression on the participants.

Furthermore, the faculty of the Department of Uzbek and Turkic Languages at Balkh University highlighted Navoi's contributions to raising the prestige of the Turkic language and popularizing it on a global scale. They noted that the poet’s “Khamsa”, ghazals, and scholarly works on morality have served as a source of spiritual perfection for centuries.

Participants exchanged views and presented practical proposals for studying and promoting Navoi’s heritage. An exhibition of works by Afghan-Uzbek writers and contemporary poets was also organized, sparking great interest and deepening respect for literature.

At the conclusion of the event, the organizers presented the participants with works by Alisher Navoi.