Mahalla in Uzbekistan means a neighborhood or local community but originally the word “mahalla” came from the Arabic language translating as “locality”. In Uzbekistan, mahalla is a separate self-governing public organization and basically each Uzbek is a member of a mahalla. The role and importance of mahallas have always been invaluable in carefully preserving the multi-ethnic Uzbek people’s national and universal human values, culture, way of life, thoughts and spirituality that have been passed down for generations. Uzbek mahallas even exist in neighboring countries among the local ethic Uzbeks but possibly unofficially, in Kyrgyzstan (Uzgen, Osh) and Southern Kazakhstan (Shymkent, Sayram). In independent Uzbekistan Mahalla is an officially established institution recognized by the state.