UNESCO recognizes tandir craftsmanship and bread baking as intangible heritage

Azerbaijan's tandir craftsmanship and bread baking has been inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Azernews reports, citing UNESCO.

"Tandirs are traditional pottery ovens used in Azerbaijan to make bread and sometimes meat and poultry. Today, masters mostly craft two types of tandirs: surface and underground ovens. The bread baked in tandirs is considered a key to longevity and is an integral part of the daily diets of the people of Azerbaijan. It can be stored for a long time and eaten over several days. Tandirs and bread baking are believed to promote solidarity. They embrace a large number of oral traditions, beliefs, rituals, cultural functions and meanings. The knowledge of tandir craftsmanship is transmitted within families through observation and practice. The knowledge of the bakery is also inherited within families through oral communication and instruction. Young women and men from the same families observe, participate in and help with the baking process. Parents eagerly share the knowledge, beliefs and expressions about tandir and bread with their children, teaching them to treat the bread with respect. Baking in tandirs is a sort of ritual that strengthens social bonds and supports family and neighbourhood ties. Traditionally, communities offer bread to children and guests first. People believe that this brings prosperity to the household. Tandir-baked bread is also a source of livelihood," said on UNESCO website.

To date, 23 elements of Azerbaijani culture have been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Since its inception, the Azerbaijan National Committee? t? UNESCO has made significant contributions? to various UNESCO programs and projects.

These include efforts? to safeguard and promote Azerbaijan's cultural sites, support educational initiatives, and foster international cooperation? in the fields? of science and technology.

As the Azerbaijan National Committee? t? UNESCO enters its fourth decade,? it continues? to? be committed? to its mission? of promoting peace and cooperation through education, culture, and science.

In 2003, the parties signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education, and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO.

Many Azerbaijani cultural sites have been included? in UNESCO's World Heritage List, including Icherisheher (Old City) with Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah's Palace, Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve, etc. In? 2021, Lankaran District was included? ?n the UNESCO list "Network? ?f Creative Cities".

UNESCO also honors Azerbaijan's outstanding personalities like the poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi, Fikrat Amirov,? great philanthropist and oil magnate Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, etc.