Strolling in Astana. March 2024. Nauryz (Kazakh new year) in the city

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Nauryz - Kazakh new year
Nauryz is a very important holiday for Kazakhs, which marks the beginning of a new year. It is celebrated several days starting from 21st of March, the day of the spring equinox. Nauryz means "new day". During Nauryz celebrations, past offences are forgiven and forgotten and everybody makes a wish to leave all badness behind and bring renewal in the New Year.
During the Nauryz holiday, large and small cities, villages become festival centres, felt yurts - traditional nomad houses are erected in city centres and rich dastarkhan (table) is laid down in each of them. City squares get full of yurts, and many performances take place there.
Usually young people gather around Altybakan, which is a large hanging swing, with colourful decorations, where songs are sung, and traditional games are played. During Nauryz holiday, many famous stars give concerts in cities and the holiday is completed by fireworks.
Between 1926-1988, Nauryz holiday was not officially celebrated in Kazakhstan (Kazakh Soviet Socialistic Republic those days)
In 2009 - 3 days of Nauryz holiday, starting 21th of March, were officially announced bank holidays in Kazakhstan. September 30, 2009 - Nauryz was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO; since then, 21 of March is announced International Day of Nowruz (Nauryz).