Every year on October 23 the International Snow Leopard Day is celebrated.

On October 23, 2021, at the initiative of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Biodiversity and Biosafety Center, in the framework of UNDP/GEF project "Conservation and sustainable use of Pamir Alay and Tien Shan ecosystems for snow leopard protection and sustainable community livelihoods", the Snow Leopard Festival was held in the village of Sarichashma, Shamsidin Shokhin district, attended by the leadership of the executive body of local government of the Shamsiddin Shokhin district, the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, representatives of the United Nations Development Programme in Kulob, local and foreign guests and local residents.

The celebration of the festival began with the solemn ceremony of unveiling a statue of snow leopard at the entrance to the Dashtijum reserve. An exhibition of achievements of people, an exhibition of paintings and drawings of nature and rare animals and plants of this region were organized on the sports ground of the Sarichashma village.

The festival was opened with a welcoming speech by the Chairman of the Shamsiddin Shokhin district, Mr. Gulzoda. Further on, welcoming speeches and congratulations were given by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Ms. Kiyomzoda Zarafo, Manager of UNDP's Local Implementation and Innovation Center in Kulob Mr. Abdullo Guliyev, Head of National Biodiversity and Biosafety Center Mr. Ubaydullo Akramov, as well as by the guests from Spain, Germany, Iran and Afghanistan.

At the Festival, contests were announced in the nominations for the best poetry, the best song, the best stage and folk crafts among schoolchildren of the Sarichashma village. The winners of the contests were awarded with memorable prizes and gifts.