The next music festival - the 14th Sheki "Silk Road" International Music Festival – was launched in Sheki, one of the ancient art and cultural centers of Azerbaijan on July 4. 
Famous music groups and talented musicians from Azerbaijan, Turkey and China take part in the three-day music festival, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Azerbaijan Composers Union and the Sheki City Executive Power. 
Today, the first concert program was presented to music lovers at the "Upper Caravanserai" hotel complex in the city of Sheki in accordance with the program of the event . Choirs, song and dance groups of minority peoples living in Azerbaijan performed a colorful program at the concert, organized by the Baku International Center  for Multiculturalism. The performance of folklore groups of different ethnic groups - Talish, Avar, Lezgi, Molokan, Tat communities - was welcomed by the audience with interest.
Before the concert began, Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, made a speech and expressed his pride in participating in the opening of a great music festival in the city of Sheki, a region of Azerbaijan with an ancient history and distinguished by its material and spiritual wealth. 
The executive director of the Center, who drew attention to the demonstration of musical and cultural samples of the peoples living in Azerbaijan at the Sheki "Silk Road" International Music Festival, stated: "This is very important. Because once upon a time, the Great Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev stated that the more cultures a nation combines, that is its wealth. This has become the slogan of Azerbaijani multiculturalism and tolerance after restoring our independence. This tradition has always been guided by President Ilham Aliyev and this principle is always preserved."
Ravan Hasanov stated that today, peoples speaking about 30 different languages and having different cultures live in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is the only state that considers this diversity to be an asset for itself: "Today, we will hear musical samples in different languages, different rhythms. However, these different musical samples create a rhythm. That rhythm is actually the beating heart of Azerbaijani tolerance, Azerbaijani multiculturalism."
It was stated that, people and ethnic groups of different religions in our country have historically protected their unique cultural and folklore traditions in conditions of long-term coexistence. The musical folklore of minority peoples is an integral part of Azerbaijani culture. The fact that these peoples have lived and created in our country for centuries, protecting and developing their cultural heritage is a clear proof of tolerance and multiculturalism in Azerbaijan.
Then the “Cahan” Avar Folk Collective, functioning in the Qabaqchol settlement of the Balakan region, took the stage. The collective was founded in 1990 and was given the name “People's Collective” in 2011. The “Cahan” collective has successfully participated in republican and international festivals and has been many times awarded honorary orders and diplomas by the Ministry of Culture. The collective also performed at the prestigious "Xaribulbul" folklore festival held in Shusha in 2021-2022, gaining great popularity.
Then the "Hovalim" Talysh Folklore Group performed. The main goal of the group, established in 2022 at the Astara District Cultural Center, is to preserve the music, dance, and ceremonial traditions of the Talysh people and to pass on folklore examples to the new generation. 
The performance of the Lezgi song and dance ensemble “Suvar” was also appreciated by the audience. This ensemble, established in Baku in 1996, is a laureate of republican and international festivals. Distinguished by its original dances and high-level song performances, this ensemble was awarded the honorary title of “People’s Collective” in 2011.
The audience also welcomed the performance of the "Slavyanochka" Folk Choir, which operates in the village of Ivanovka, Ismayilli district, with interest. The collective has been functioning since 1973. The folk choir has repeatedly performed successfully at various holidays, concerts and folk festivals in Baku and many regions of our republic.
The performance of the “Khinayakhdi (Henna Ceremony)” Folklore Folk Collective, established in 1986 at the Daghbiliji village Culture House in Shabran district, was also met with interest. The collective's repertory mainly includes folk songs, songs related to seasonal ceremonies, the sowing and harvesting period, and national holidays. These folklore samples are of particular importance in terms of both preserving the national spirit and preserving ancient customs and traditions.
The concert ended with the song "Azerbaijan" performed by Muslim Magomayev.
At the end of the successfully ended concert, the artistic director of the Sheki “Silk Road” XIV International Music Festival, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Composers Union, People's Artist, Professor Firangiz Alizadeh made a speech and stated that the “Silk Road” International Music Festival, which has become a wonderful tradition and is being held for the fourteenth time, will provide unforgettable moments for the participants and guests this time too.
At the end of the concert, the leaders of the folklore groups were presented with commemorative gifts of the festival.