TASHKENT, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan on Tuesday held events across the country to mark the 580th anniversary of the birth of famous medieval poet, statesman and thinker Alisher Navoi.
Uzbekistan holds an international conference and literature evenings every Feb. 9 to read Navoi's works, with an online Navoi-challenge reciting the poet launched this year.
Born in 1441, Navoi was the first poet to write in the Turkic language. His contribution to the emergence and development of Uzbek literature is invaluable, experts said.
Earlier this month, the Alisher Navoi International Public Foundation was established by presidential decree to study the poet's life and heritage, as well as to popularize his works abroad.
Many squares and streets, educational establishments and one of the regions of the country are named after Alisher Navoi, and his statue in central Tashkent has become a gathering point for poets and writers. Enditem