40 Days of Nauryz

“In ancient times, Kazakh people celebrated Nauryz in different periods,” said Ardak Raiymbekov, the head of the oblast Department of culture, archives and documentation. – “Syrdarya Kazakhs, for example, began to celebrate Nauryz from the end of February, when it became warm. In the south, Nauryz was celebrated after the arrival of birds. In the West there is a tradition of “korisu” – from March 14 people start to visit and  congratulate each other on the beginning of spring. In the central and northern regions, Nauryz was welcomed much later. In general, Nauryz for our ancestors had never been a one-day holiday, it embodied the whole period of spring renewal.”

According to him, during 40 days, various events will take place in all cities and distrcits. The festivities will begin on March 22. For the celebration in Pavlodar, the director Askar Naimantaiyev, the honored figure of Kazakhstan, who realized the projects “Retro zhuldyzdar shakyrady”, “Aitynyz kabyl bolsyn”, “Zhana zhylda – zhana zhuldyzdar”, was invited. On April 30, which, according to the government’s decree, will be a day off, there will also be mass festivities in the oblast center. In the Central Square an ethnoaul and various areas for entertainment and competitions, sites for sports and children’s games will be established.