Gala concert dedicated to opening of the International Festival “Sharq Taronalari” was held at the Registan square.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated at the opening ceremony and welcomed the guests of the event.

The festival has been held each two years starting from 1997. The festival covers almost all continents. Number of participating countries is increasing each year. Some 33 countries participated in 1997 and their number reached to 50 in 2009.

According to the press service of the Directorate of the festival "Sharq taronalari", it is expected that this year's forum will bring together a musical about 300 people participating in the festival from 52 countries worldwide. Among them are well-known musicians, composers, music critics and the media.

Among debutants of the Festival are representatives of Gambia, Burkina-Faso, Wales, Ireland, Brazil, Canada, Luxemburg, Poland, the Czech Republic and Brunei.

The first competition day of the festival kicks off on 27 August and the festival will end on 30 August.