DUSHANBE, July 7, 2009, Asia-Plus - Preparations for celebrating the 18th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence, which is marked on September 9, were a major topic of a meeting of the Dushanbe mayor’s office that was held on July 6.

Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor, said that the main celebrations to mark this national holiday would be held at the Dushanbe central stadium.

According to him, the meeting also considered issues related to development of entrepreneurship in the city and targeted use of Dushanbe’s supply of land.

Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev charged relevant bodies of the mayor’s office to study the proposal by the Dushanbe department for regulating national traditions to reduce the time for holding “oshi nahor” (morning pilaf), which is a part of wedding ceremony, from 3 to 1.5 hours beginning on August 1 this year, the spokesman said.