Wedding Plov In Tashkent

Uzbeks take weddings seriously and the right of passage is a multi-day, strictly followed ordeal. One of the important events of the overall wedding is a morning plov. Plov is a rice pilaf dish and morning is the early part of the day. Just to be clear.

Arrival. The plov ceremony is for men only. In modern Tashkent, the event is held in a party hall.

Typical table setting for a party. One could nosh. It's mostly for show, a backdrop for the coming plov. Eating commences. Although framed as a party, the feeling is more eat and run.

Entertainment. Lonely.

Dais. Flowery. Unoccupied. Ok, the plov has been consumed. It's been real. And brief. The men chow and bow. The whole event takes about half an hour.

The star of the party. Gutted.

Behold The Museum Of Olympic Glory!

Such a modest museum. Throw a little javelin, jerk a bunch of weights, bring home some bauble made of gold. Tashkent has a museum dedicated to the wonder of the olympics, both for Uzbek achievements and athletes worldwide. Go gaze at the glory.

Cool building. A circular example of classic, midcentury modernist Soviet style architecture.

Inside, a procession of displays and artifacts. Gotta celebrate the construction of the museum. Is building not a sport? Getting closer to athletic achievement, a display of ceremonial torches used for various games. In the middle, Moscow 1980.

Display of general 20th century Olympic games history.

Personal glory. Strongman detail from a heroic mural. "Lift that rock!" A more modern, delicate champion: Nadia Comaneci.

A weightlifting exhibit. Uzbeks are strong (ahem) in the brute competitions of boxing, weightlifting, whatever MMA-like sports are currently included in the games.