To celebrate Nauryz, one of the greatest holidays in Kazakhstan, Almaty officials have decided to change the usual festival location this year and organise the nation’s celebration in the city central park. Instead of reveling in the central squares, locals and guests of Almaty will be transported by special busses to the park, where the concert and entertainment programme will be organised, said Almaty TV. The location of the bus stations and ticket prices will be announced this month.
All future celebrations will be organised in the central park as well, according to the Almaty city akimat (administration).
“We need to think about making the celebration programme interesting and lively. We will also try our best not to let the limited budget affect the quality of the event. We will continue attracting partners, various companies and organisations, which expressed their interest in Nauryz celebrations in order to consider creative projects and implement the most interesting of them,”said Kairat Kulbayev, head of the Department of Culture.
Nauryz celebrations will kick off at 10 a.m., March 22. The city central park will offer different entertainment zones for traditional Kazakh games and sporting competitions, platforms for concerts and food zones.
Festive events will be held in all eight districts of the southern capital. The gala in the Alatau district will be organised on the square in front of the Alatau cinema and concert hall, while people in the Almaly and Bostandyk districts will celebrate in the MEGA and MEGA PARK shopping malls. The Auezov district will organise events at the Turar Ryskulov Kazakh Economic University stadium, whereas the Zhetisu district anticipates celebrations will be held in Ainabulak Park. In the Medeu district, festivities will take place on the square in front of the Palace of Students and in the Turksib district, holiday activities will be organised in Saken Seifullin Park. Nauryzbai, the youngest district of the city, will celebrate Nauryz on the grounds of School No. 192.
This year’s festivities will be dedicated to the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate, so the entrance to the park will be stylised as Khan’s possession and various performances will take place there.
Nauryz, which marks the beginning of the spring New Year, is a very important holiday for Kazakhs and was celebrated by people in Persia and nomads in Central Asia from ancient times. The holiday symbolises the festival of wealth, happiness and love, an opportunity for people to forgive one another and make a wish to leave all animosity behind and start the New Year with good intentions.
