Kelaghayis are one of the most famous headdresses in the world. And they are still handmade by the few skilled masters who live in Basgal. Another stop on the Silk Road is the historic gem of Sheki, with its beautiful palaces, caravanserais and its tasty Sheki halva.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 This is Baskal, a small village hidden in the Azerbaijani mountains.
00:10 Probably you are wondering what I am doing here.
00:13 Well, the Silk Road runs right through this mountain oasis and it's here that a really
00:19 famous local handicraft made with this precious fiber has its origins.
00:29 This charming little village was a key center of the silk weaving industry.
00:33 In the past, almost every Baskal's house practiced silk spinning.
00:38 The main silk handicraft created here, kelagay, is everywhere and this ancient tradition is
00:43 still alive.
00:44 Kelagay, one of the most ancient headdresses in the world, is a symbol of beauty, respect
00:50 and loyalty and it embodies Azerbaijan's culture and traditions.
00:58 This artwork is also recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage.
01:20 Today, a dozen kelagay masters who work in Baskal, I'm going to meet one of them.
01:27 The production of kelagay can take several days.
01:31 Let's try to make one of these famous headscarves.
01:35 Salaam.
01:37 Salaam.
01:40 Abbas Ali has been doing this for more than 45 years.
01:44 His work starts once the fabric is woven with silk threads.
01:48 For decoration, he uses the batik technique, which involves stamping hot walks to prevent
01:53 the dye from transferring to parts of the fabric.
01:58 Each one of these special stencils has its own name and meaning.
02:02 The most common one is the buta.
02:20 It may seem like an easy job, but it requires a certain amount of skill and knowledge.
02:49 Now it's time to color my kelagay.
02:51 Natural dyes are used, derived from sumac, saffron, ginger, onion skin and other herbs.
02:58 Once the color is fixed, it's time to wash out the walks with hot water.
03:08 Then a few minutes of drying and my masterpiece is done.
03:12 I'm so proud of it, but it still needs to pass a test.
03:17 Choksaol.
03:20 So let's see if it's a real one.
03:24 A real kelagay should weigh 125 grams and pass through a ring.
03:30 Yes, it's definitely a real one.
03:37 Choksaol.
03:40 There's another stop on the Great Silk Road that we need to do Sheki.
03:45 As the capital of the powerful Sheki Khanate, the administrative units in the South Caucasus
03:50 that were active during the 19th century, this historical gem still reflects the wealth
03:55 generated by the silk industry in the past.
03:59 Here you can wander in the famous lofty stone caravanserai, a typical inn built to accommodate
04:04 silk traders.
04:08 Or you can admire the private summer residence of the Sheki Khans, designated as a UNESCO
04:13 World Heritage Site with its miniature paintings and shebeke stained glass.
04:21 And if you pass through here, you really need to taste the famous Sheki halva.
04:26 It's a syrupy baked baklava made with layers of rice paper, crushed nuts and secret spices.
04:38 So let's try this Sheki halva.
04:45 It's so good I can really taste the honey inside of it.
04:50 I'm leaving Azerbaijan and bringing a part of it with me.
04:54 And what's more, I did it myself.
04:55 [MUSIC PLAYING]