Iran's West Azerbaijan Province is planning to hold a festival to introduce the musical tradition of Azeri troubadours known as Ashiqs.

A Glow of Ashiqlar, whish will kick off on Nov. 19, 2009, will host musicians from Iran's West Azerbaijan, Zanjan, East Azerbaijan and Ardebil Provinces.

The two-day festival aims to promote the traditional music of Ashiqs and motivate regional musicians to revive this art.

Ashiqs were mystic troubadours or traveling bards, who sang semi-improvised songs and played music in ancient Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Iran.

They were credited with preserving the oral musical tradition, the promotion of communal value systems and the traditional culture of their people.

The Ashiq musical art is now practiced mostly in Iran's northwestern provinces of East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, and Ardebil as well as the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia Turkey and Turkmenistan.

Azerbaijan's Ashik art was registered on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in September 2009.

TE/HGH