Alabai Day in Turkmenistan will now be celebrated on the last Sunday of October. The corresponding decree was signed today by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the “Vatan” newscast of the Turkmen television reported.

Alabai Day is the youngest holiday in the national calendar of Turkmenistan. In the spring of this year, it was first celebrated together with the national holiday of the Ahalteke horse. The reasons for the postponement of the holiday are not reported.

The Turkmen Alabai is one of the most ancient dog breeds on Earth. She is from three to six thousand years old. On the territory of the country, archaeologists have repeatedly found terracotta figurines of dogs with docked ears and tails.

Attention to Alabai dogs has noticeably increased lately. Clinics and canine centers are being built in the country. Artists, carpet weavers, sculptors try to depict Turkmen Alabai dogs in their works. Also, in the country there is a beauty contest among dogs of this breed. Last year, on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the International Association “Turkmen Alabai” was established, which includes representatives from 25 countries.

The country also intends to include the art of seizing Ahalteke horses and breeding Turkmen Alabai in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. One of the books of the President of Turkmenistan is dedicated to this dog breed. It has been published in several languages. It contains the history of the breed, interesting facts, old legends.