On the 8^th of May the event titled “The Epic of an Eternal Life” dedicated to the 102^nd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was held at the Institute of Folklore of ANAS. The event, organized with the support of the Territorial Party Organization of the New Azerbaijan Party at the Institute, began with the playing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Then, the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was honored with a minute of silence. Afterwards, a video clip titled “The Epic of an Eternal Life” prepared by the Folklore Studio was presented.

Opening the event with an introductory speech, Associate Professor Hikmat Guliyev, Director of the Institute of Folklore, mentioned that National Leader Heydar Aliyev, as the architect of modern and independent Azerbaijan, made significant contributions to its comprehensive development and prosperity. He noted that both during the Soviet era and the period of independence, it was precisely due to the successful policies implemented by the National Leader that our national and spiritual values, language, literature and culture entered their most advanced stage of development. The foundation of Heydar Aliyev’s policy of Azerbaijani identity was established on national and spiritual values, their preservation and the idea of transforming them into the cornerstone of statehood.

Then, the head of the department of Folklore of ceremony of the Institute, Doctor of Sciences in Philology, Associate Professor Agaverdi Khalil made a report on the theme “Heydar Aliyev and the development of Azerbaijani Folkloristics”. He noted that the direction of cultural construction, which was founded by Heydar Aliyev and today constitutes the strategy of the state policy of Azerbaijan, includes topical issues such as attachment to national roots and protection of national identity in the process of modernization of society. This path of development aims to ensure progress based on the people’s connection to their roots by reviving the progressive traditions of historical experience and reinforcing shared national, spiritual and cultural values.

Later, the leading researcher of the department of Mythology, PhD., Associate Professor Ilhama Gasabova made a report on the theme “Heydar Aliyev’s care for ashiq art”. Jamila Novruzova spoke about the invaluable role of both personalities in the development of statehood, science and morality of Azerbaijan in her report on “The role of Heydar Aliyev’s and Zarifa Aliyeva’s heritages in youth policy”. During the report, she mentioned the historical services of Heydar Aliyev in the formation of the ideology of Azerbaijanism and the involvement of young people in state policy.

At the same time, deputy director for scientific affairs of the Institute of Folklore of ANAS, associate professor Afag Ramazanova, professor Leyla Mammadova, writer-publicist Mahir Javadov, leading researcher, Associate Professor Aposh Valiyev, chairman of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists Saadat Ibrahimova, scientific worker Vusala Karimova reviewed the activities of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the field of state building.