Melon Day
In 2004, Saparmurat Niyazov told farmers "Almighty God has turned Turkmen soil into a fertile source of an abundance of the tastiest fruits. Among them are Turkmen melons, which are the result of farmers' hard work and which have a unique taste reminiscent of the fruit of paradise." Newspapers say he has said "The Turkmen melon is the source of our pride. Its taste has no equals in the world, the smell makes your head spin."