The Song of the Weaving Women

Within Turkmen culture, the carpet has long transcended mere functionality and decoration to become a profound symbol, embodying the nation’s philosophy, aesthetics, and beliefs. Over time, it has emerged as a powerful emblem of national identity. Across generations, artists, poets, composers, and folk singers—bakhshis—have celebrated the carpet weaver, honoring her as a masterful creator.
A particularly iconic tribute to this art is the Song of the Carpet Weavers from the opera Ayna. Composed by Dangatar Ovezov and Adrian Shaposhnikov, the opera premiered in 1957 and remains the first and only work dedicated to portraying the life, labor, and artistry of female carpet weavers.