Due to the lack of rainfall during this year’s autumn season and the absence of precipitation expected in the coming days, the initiative of the Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, Mufti Shaykh Nuriddin Kholiqnazar, has designated 28 November 2025, Friday, for performing Salat al-Istisqa (the prayer for rain) in all mosques across our country after the Friday prayer.
On this occasion, sacrificial animals will be slaughtered at regional, district, and city central mosques, as well as at pilgrimage sites, and the meat will be distributed to families in need, orphans, and the elderly.
On the same day, before the Friday prayer, teachers and students of higher and secondary specialized Islamic educational institutions will complete a full reading (khatm) of Imam al-Bukhari’s Sahih al-Bukhari.
Imams currently performing the ‘umrah pilgrimage in Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al-Munawwarah are encouraged to perform the Salat al-Istisqa together with their groups in the Noble Harams.
Muslim Board of Uzbekistan Press Service
Within the framework of the 12th international “World Halal Food Festival 2026” held in the capital of the United Kingdom, traditional Uzbek plov was presented to the guests of the event, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.
At this large-scale gastronomic event, which gathered guests from various countries around the world, the team of the London-based Uzbek restaurant “Oshpaz” prepared Uzbek plov according to the traditional recipe - in special cast-iron cauldrons (kazans) directly in front of the festival visitors. This allowed the guests not only to appreciate the unique taste of the dish but also to familiarize themselves with the process of its preparation and the traditions of the Uzbek national cuisine.
Uzbek plov generated great interest among the festival guests. The harmonious combination of aromatic spices, rice, carrots and meat, along with the traditional method of cooking in a cauldron, left a vibrant impression on the visitors.
“World Halal Food Festival” is a major international event dedicated to the promotion of halal products, gastronomy and cultural diversity. More than 200 halal product manufacturers and entrepreneurs from over 25 countries participated in the 2026 festival. Over the course of two days, the event was attended by more than 20,000 people.
Participation in the festival contributed to a broader acquaintance of the British public with the Uzbek national cuisine, the presentation of the rich gastronomic heritage of Uzbekistan to an international audience, as well as the promotion of the country’s tourism potential.