There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over a ballroom just before an anthem begins. On the evening of 6 November, in the Bayu Ballroom of the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, that quiet came twice: once for Malaysia, and once for Azerbaijan. In between, and long after, the room was anything but quiet. It was full of music, laughter, colour and the warm smell of Azerbaijani cooking.
The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Malaysia had invited friends from across Kuala Lumpur to mark two important dates for its people: Victory Day, observed on 8 November, and the National Flag Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, celebrated each year on 9 November. Our team was there with cameras in hand, and this is the Azerbaijan Victory Day celebration we saw.
A ballroom that spelled out a nation
You noticed the ice first. Along the main buffet stood a row of glowing ice letters spelling AZERBAIJAN, lit from below in shades of blue, green and soft pink, the colours of the flag. Guests could not resist them. Throughout the evening, people stopped to take photos in front of the letters, plates in hand, catching the light on their faces.
Nearby sat a cake decorated with the skyline of Baku, a small sign beside it reading “Victory Day and the National Flag Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan”. Further along, a photo exhibition on easels told stories of the Karabakh region: new roads, rebuilt towns and crowds waving the tricolour.
A warm welcome at the door
From just after six, His Excellency Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Malaysia, stood with Mrs. Farhadov and members of the Embassy at the entrance, between the flags of Malaysia and Azerbaijan, greeting every guest personally. Diplomats, Malaysian officials, business leaders, academics and families from the Azerbaijani community all came through that line, and few left it without a smile and a photograph.
One of the sweetest moments of the night came early. A young girl in traditional Azerbaijani dress, deep purple velvet trimmed with gold and a delicate veil, posed proudly beside the ice letters. Children in the room quietly reminded everyone what celebrations like this are really about: passing something precious on to the next generation.
Two anthems open the Azerbaijan Victory Day programme
Just after seven, the master of ceremonies called the room to order and asked guests to stand. The national anthem of Malaysia came first, followed by the anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Hundreds of guests stood still side by side, a simple sight but a moving one, two nations honouring each other in a single moment.
In his speech, Ambassador Farhadov greeted the room with “Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh” and a friendly “Selamat datang”. He spoke of the sixth anniversary of Azerbaijan Victory Day, of his country’s programme to rebuild and repopulate the Karabakh region with modern infrastructure and green energy, and of Azerbaijan’s hope for lasting peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus.
It is a day to remember our triumphant history, but also to look forward to a future of prosperity and regional collaboration.
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Malaysia
He closed with a warm invitation that caught our attention as a nature and travel magazine: to visit Azerbaijan, and particularly its beautiful Garabagh region. A short film dedicated to Victory Day followed on the big screen.
A voice all the way from Baku
Then the formal part of the evening gave way to music. Mr. Orkhan Jalilov, a vocalist of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, had flown in from Baku to perform, and he did not stay on the stage for long. Behind him, the screen filled with Azerbaijani landscapes: snow-capped peaks, green valleys, old stone streets and dancers in flowing costume. In front of him, the room slowly came alive.
Halfway through his set he stepped down, microphone in hand, and walked among the tables, singing to guests at close range, laughing with them and drawing them in. Before long, a few guests were on their feet dancing near the stage, arms raised in the graceful style of Azerbaijani folk dance, while others filmed on their phones and clapped along.
Flavours worth staying for
Dinner was a celebration in itself. Alongside the hotel’s buffet, the evening included the flavours of Azerbaijani cuisine, and the dessert table was a work of art: neat rows of colourful sweets, glasses of creamy pudding and towers of fresh fruit, all glowing under the light of the ice letters. It was the kind of spread that made guests linger, plate in one hand and conversation in the other.
And linger they did. Long after the official programme ended, the room was still full of small circles of friends, old and new, swapping stories and taking one more photograph together in front of the Embassy backdrop.
An invitation to discover Azerbaijan
For readers of The Great Nature, the Ambassador’s invitation deserves a second look. Azerbaijan is a country of striking contrasts, from the high peaks of the Greater Caucasus to forested valleys, ancient mountain villages and the long shores of the Caspian Sea. As a Muslim-majority country with halal food easy to find, it is also a welcoming destination for Malaysian families and adventurers alike.
We left the JW Marriott with full memory cards and a full heart. Our thanks go to His Excellency Mr. Khazar Farhadov and the team at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for a beautiful evening of culture, music and friendship. To all our Azerbaijani friends in Malaysia: Happy Azerbaijan Victory Day and Happy National Flag Day!
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