The opening ceremony of the 11th International Music Festival “Sharq Taronalari" (Melodies of the East), was held in Samarkand in Uzbekistan on Monday.

The festival which is held every two years, is organized by the government of Uzbekistan and hosted by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Over 250 artists from 58 different countries attended the festival.

Samarkand city has many historical places and buildings and is as one of the oldest cities in Uzbekistan.