Foreign students from different universities from Baku were invited to the festival which took place on November 3rd. We left at 7AM (Azerbaijani 7AM makes it 740AM) to get there at about 12PM. It seemed like this small little town wakes up every year to host foreign visitors and share the best they have to offer. We arrived with two buses to be welcomed by very interested and curious looks from the local people.
First thing that hit me in the face was that it was so different from Baku. In Baku people do look at me, especially when I walk when it's already dark (forget about wearing a dress..) but in Goychay we knew this is the first time they see somebody from another country. People were atring at us, following us, takig pictures with and of us. Children were talking to us in English which was quite surprising (because the people I meet at the university have a lot of trouble speaking in English) and really cute. The picture taking thing was tiring and emberassing too.. I can understand why celebrities are so fed up with the paparazzi...
Well the festival itself was GREAT! As a food lover as big as me you would feel the heavens! There was so much food, everywhere! We tried differet kinds of pomegranate juice, pomegranate fruits, pomegranate preserves, pomegranate wine (so good!), baklava, shekebura (a dumpling-shaped cookie with roasted almonds and nuts), different types of cakes, plov and more pomegranate juice!
That was not all! After we walked around to try all different foods we were invited for lunch! Already full but happy with our bags filled with fresh fruits we walked in a wedding reception ballroom! That's when the real party started! ;)
It was just like a regular wedding reception except there was no bride aad groom. So Azerbaijanis weddings are not that different from Polish ones although they do differ. At frist you get to eat: appetizers, 4 courses (meat, meat, kebab, plov), drink some wine or other drinks and then the dancing starts. Azerbaijani dance is so different from what I've seen so far. The boys try to move their legs as fast as you can, girls try to do almost the same but they do stay graceful the whole time. A little of Azerbaijani dance you can see here:
Azerbaijani dance
After the reception there was a concert so we got to listen to Azerbaijani music stars and being foreigners as we are we started another party just outside. Dancing to Azerbaijani music, watching the lampions go up to the sky and hanging out with people from so many countries gave me so much energy I didn't feel I was up for almost 24 hours :) It was the first time I felt I'm Erasmus and it feels absolutely great!
That wasn't the end, though. After the concert we had a dinner which was pretty much the same thing as lunch so just imagine how full we were by the end of the night! We finished at around 11PM to sleep all the way back to Baku. Everyone tired but happy with many new international friends!
Nar Bayrami - Pomegranate Festival is definitely something you have to do if you're in Azerbaijan in November! I strongly recommend it!!
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