Famous festivals in Azerbaijan that you must Explore

Azerbaijan is a small country that was at a geographic crossroads and was ruled by a number of empires before World War. Despite having a majority of Shia Muslims, Azerbaijan is a secular country that upholds religious freedom. Check out the list of Azerbaijan's best festivals if you are planning to visit Azerbaijan soon.

Here is the compiled list of festivals in Azerbaijan so that you can take in the rich cultural heritage of this breathtaking location. The Baku International Jazz Festival, Gabala Music Festival, Pomegranate Festival, Apple Festival, and others are among the wonderful festivals in Azerbaijan that you should visit. Get yourself ready for a memorable holiday that will be both enduring and intriguing and don’t miss out on the multi-cultural events in Azerbaijan.

Baku International Jazz Music Festival

For people who are crazy about jazz, the Baku International Jazz Festival should be on the bucket list during your trip to Azerbaijan. The seminars, masterclasses, jazz performances, and concerts at this music festival are performed by several renowned jazz performers from throughout the globe. Rain Sultanov, a jazz artist from the area, founded the event, which now has 115 participants from 34 nations. The festival, which takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, plays a significant role in the country's contemporary jazz renaissance. It provides a stage for Azeri jazz musicians to perform alongside bands from other countries. The festival offers spectators a cultural experience by including photography and art displays in addition to musical acts. The festival is well-known in the jazz world since it has featured well-known jazz performers including Denise Fontoura, Djabe, and Albert Hera.

Read more:- Best Archaeological Sites in Azerbaijan that are Worth Visiting

Gabala Music Festival

In Gabala, Azerbaijan, the classical music genre is honored at the Gabala International Music Festival. An international competition for young pianists is also part of the event. Gabala itself is one of the best places to visit in Azerbaijan and The Gabala International Music Festival is a performance you won't want to miss if you enjoy classical music. It offers a singular chance to experience the music of Rachmaninoff and other great composers while taking in the stunning natural surroundings of Gabala. 

Some of the highlights of the festival are, visitors can enjoy the performances by the world wide popular symphonic and philharmonic orchestras, including the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (Israel), Baku Chamber Orchestra (Azerbaijan), Jóvenes Clásicos Del Son (Cuba), and Tbilisi City Hall Jazz Orchestra BIG-BAND (Georgia). These concerts also featured music by multiple popular composers like Rachmaninoff, Strauss, Brahms, Schumann, Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Tofig Guliyev, and Vagif Mustafazade.

Read more:- 7 Interesting Facts about the Dead Sea in Jordan

Goychay Pomegranate Fruit Festival

Since 2006, the Goychay, Azerbaijan, Pomegranate Festival has become a yearly celebration. A range of pomegranate goods, including narsharab, juice concentrates, jam, jelly, grenadine, wine, and seeds in syrup, are on display at the festival, which takes place in the fall. Other pomegranate kinds on display at the festival include Veles, Shirin, Gyuleysha, and Shih Baba. The festival features a wide range of ceremonies, contests, dancing competitions, fairs, parades, and performances in addition to the display of pomegranate-related products. During the festival procession, guests can take in Azerbaijani music and dance while competing in events like the largest pomegranate eating contest. In 2020, the Goychay Pomegranate Festival will be embraced in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event offers a singular chance to learn about Azerbaijani culture and enjoy the scrumptious burst of pomegranate-related products.

Festival of Colour 

As the first-ever "Summer Festival of Colors" was held in the country's scenic province of Guba, hundreds of participants threw paint powder at one another. The Hindu festival of Holi, which is celebrated yearly on the first day of spring, is where this festival's rising popularity has its origins. All ages congregate in the streets to hurl colored water and gulal, a finely ground paint. Halibel Lake is located nearby at the two-day event in Guba. Many people traveled to the event from all across the nation to celebrate the holiday and have a wonderful experience. Even visitors did not pass up the opportunity to take part in this entertaining celebration with Azerbaijan Tour packages.

World International Mugham Festival

An annual cultural event takes place in Shaki, Azerbaijan, under the name Shusha Festival or Mugham World International Mugham Festival. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation organized the festival's debut event in March 2009. Since then, it has skyrocketed in popularity and annually draws famous singers and academics. Every year, the festival draws renowned musicians and academics, making it a thrilling occasion for music lovers.  If you want to experience Azerbaijani music and culture, you must go to the Mugham World International Mugham Festival. This is an internationally recognized event in Azerbaijan. Along with the festival, the Mugham Centre in Baku also hosts multiple events like different festivals, international conferences, and multiple performances.