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March 21· Holiday

Nauryz Meiramy

In Kazakhstan Nauryz is a state holiday on 21–23 March, with nauryz kozhe, yurts, the altybaqan swing, horseback games and folk festivities.

Kazakhstan — Nauryz Meiramy
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In Kazakhstan Nauryz Meiramy is a state holiday with days off on 21–23 March. Kazakhs call it Ulystyn Uly Kuni, the Great Day of the People; in the nomadic calendar it marks the beginning of the new year.

The festive dish is nauryz kozhe, cooked from seven ingredients — water, meat, salt, flour, rice, milk and wheat. White yurts and altybaqan swings go up in city squares, kokpar, horse races and wrestling are held, and elders bless the young.

The holiday

Astana and Almaty host big festive concerts and Nauryz fairs, and people greet each other with "Ulys on bolsyn!" — "May it be good for the people!"

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Kazakhstan: other days