The 65th International Flower Festival officially kicked off in Namangan on May 24. During the opening ceremony, it was announced that the Namangan region has been officially inducted into the Guinness World Records for the "Most flowers planted collectively in one month."
Seyda Subasi, an official adjudicator from Guinness World Records, presented the world record certificate to the province governor Shavkatjon Abdurazakov, during the festival's opening events.
The scaling up of the event has been massive: last year, preparation efforts saw 100 million flower seedlings planted across the region. This year, that figure skyrocketed to an unprecedented 150 million.
The landmark jubilee festival has expanded deep into local residential neighborhoods (mahallas), with houses and streets fully decorated in vibrant blooms. As part of the festivities, the region also hosted a community competition to crown the Most Beautiful and Well-Kept Mahalla.
The festival’s opening ceremony commenced with its traditional car parade. A grand motorcade of vehicles, completely blanketed in intricate floral arrangements, set off from the airport and made its way through the central streets before arriving at Babur Park.
More than 150 events are scheduled throughout the festival, featuring international forums, cultural and educational exhibitions, and sports competitions. Visitors can immerse themselves in the elaborate floral displays at Babur Park, the Valley of Legends (Afsonalar Vodiysi), and the New Uzbekistan Park.
Festivities have also kicked off across the region’s districts. Alongside Chust's famous Plov Festival and Pop's vibrant Lavender Festival, the Mingbulak district is making its debut this year by hosting its very first Patyr (traditional flatbread) Festival.
The provincial governor's office projects a massive economic and tourism boost, estimating that over 1 million international tourists and roughly 8 million domestic visitors will arrive during the festival, which is slated to run until July 12.
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