Tajikistan to Host “Best Housewife” Competition This April

On the second Saturday of April 2026, Tajikistan will hold the national “Best Housewife” contest, organized under the 2026 schedule of cultural events, festivals, exhibitions, and competitions, approved by a presidential decree on January 2, 2026.

The competition aims to revive lost national dishes and promote the culinary skills and craftsmanship of Tajik women and girls, in line with instructions from President Emomali Rahmon, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

The contest unfolds in three stages:

Local level: local neighborhoods, villages, towns, and rural municipalities select the best housewives.

Regional level: February-March competitions in provinces, Dushanbe, and other republican cities.

National stage: Final event in Dushanbe with winners from previous rounds, along with ministry representatives and skilled housewives.

Organized by the Committee on Women and Family Affairs together with relevant ministries, the contest is held for the eighth year in a row. Its main goal is to encourage talented women, revive traditional dishes, develop national cuisine in restaurants, prepare girls for independent life, and enhance home management and table presentation skills.

In 2025, the competition featured six categories, including Best Table Decoration, Revival of Lost National Dishes, and preparation of traditional dishes such as Kurutob (the national dish of Tajikistan, often described as a "bread salad" or a creamy mix of vegetables and flatbread), a culinary dish made from the stomach of ruminant animals, most often beef, known as tripe, national salads, and baked goods, with winners recognized in each category.