The Human House gallery in Tashkent hosted a traditional sumalak cooking ceremony to celebrate the Navruz holiday. Founded by Lola Sayfi and her team, the event has been organized since 2018. In the courtyard, amidst clay walls and blue carved doors, the sounds of doira and the smoke of a bonfire filled the air, with guests dancing in national costumes to folk melodies. The sumalak preparation process lasted 12 hours, during which participants made good wishes and honored ancient traditions.

The central figure of the event was chef Omon Pulatov from Kashkadarya, responsible for cooking the sumalak with 35 years of experience. Lola Sayfi emphasized that Omon-aka approaches the task with meticulous care, and his sumalak always turns out smooth, with a consistency reminiscent of chocolate paste. The chef explained that the base of sumalak is solely sprouted wheat juice and flour, with no secret ingredients added. He noted that correct proportions and 12 hours of continuous labor are crucial.

The ceremony attracted participants from diverse backgrounds, including foreign guests such as Dominik from Poland, Lyudmila from Russia, Annett from Switzerland, and Yuki from Japan. They observed the sumalak preparation and engaged in cultural exchange. As Lola Sayfi pointed out, visitors here witness not a staged performance but the real life of ordinary people. Guests conversed at the table in various languages, feeling the unifying spirit of Navruz.

The next morning, when the pot was opened, patterns formed on the sumalak's surface were believed to foretell the future. Lola Sayfi recounted that many saw bird images, such as the mythical Simurgh, the Huma bird, or a dove of peace. Following tradition, the sumalak was distributed into jars and cups for all attendees. This event highlighted the gallery's inclusivity and Uzbekistan's multicultural heritage.

Source: www.gazeta.uz