DUSHANBE, December 10, 2013, Asia-Plus – Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaiduloyev yesterday signed a decree on organizing festive activities in the city to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor’s office, says the festive activities will start at Dushanbe’s Boarding School # 1 on December 27.  Pupils from all boarding schools of the city will attend the festive event at Boarding School # 1.

“On December 28, a New Year’s performance for excellent pupils will take place at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex and the mayor’s office will hold traditional New Year’s performance for children from vulnerable families at Dushanbe Circus on December 30,” the spokesman said.

A New Year’s concert with participation of known Tajik singers will take place in Dousti Square from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on December 31.

Besides, farm produce fairs will be held at all Dushanbe’s marketplaces from December 28 to December 30, Saidov added.

New Year’s tree will be installed in Dousti Square on December 28.  

We will recall that the “Tajikistan Joins War on Santa” item by David Trilling, which was posted on Eurasianet’s website on December 6, says that authorities in Tajikistan are forbidding Father Frost from appearing on television this holiday season.

According to Eurasianet, Radio Ozodi reported on December 5 that the new ban in Tajikistan applies to Father Frost, his maiden sidekick Snegurochka, and Christmas trees.   The ban reportedly applies to state television.

Meanwhile, New Year’s remains one of the most popular holidays throughout the former Soviet Union, celebrated with family meals and fireworks.