TEHRAN -- Cultural scholars are to participate in the third congress on Turkmen poet Makhtum-Qoli Faraghi on May 17 at Gonbad-e Kavus in Golestan Province.

Several scholars from Turkmenistan are also invited to the congress, said Hossein Sobuti from the Golestan department of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
The participating guests will also gather in the Iranian village of Aq-Tuqai where Makhtum-Qoli is buried, to commemorate the Turkmen poet.
Several other cultural programs including a commemoration ceremony in the birthplace of Makhtum-Qoli, the village of Haji-Qushan, are also arranged during the congress.
Golestan department of Culture and Islamic Guidance and governor’s offices of Gonbad-e Kavus, Kolaleh, and Moraveh Tappeh are collaborating in the project.
As the greatest Turkmen poet, Makhtum-Qoli (1733-1790) is considered to be the founder of authentic Turkmen literature by the people who speak the language.
A small number Turkmen-speaking Iranian people live in the Bandar Turkmen in west portion of Golestan Province, in the southeastern Caspian Sea region.