In celebration of Nauryz, the Corporate “Social Development Fund” transformed Nazarbayev University’s entrance into a vibrant ethnovillage—a living encyclopedia of Kazakh culture, blending the past and present in the spirit of the steppe.
Here, each guest could not only observe the traditions but also touch the heritage of their ancestors, feeling its power and beauty.
Centuries-old yurts, adorned with national embroidery, became a symbol of hospitality and warmth, gathering students, faculty, and guests around the hearths of Kazakh culture. The space was enlivened by artisan workshops, where craftsmen taught the art of pottery, allowing everyone to create their own unique clay vessel. Meanwhile, skilled archers competed in traditional archery, testing their agility and warrior spirit. Special excitement was sparked by games of assyk—an activity that for centuries has honed reaction time and strategic thinking.
However, the main attraction was the altybakan—the legendary swing, symbolizing youth, joy, and the genuine pleasure of social interaction. Here, accompanied by the music of the dombyra, folk songs resonated, and participants shared smiles and warm wishes, embodying the main philosophy of Nauryz—unity, renewal, and prosperity.
The event took on special significance thanks to the international community of the University: foreign students and faculty immersed themselves with sincere interest in the world of Kazakh traditions, trying their hand at national crafts, folk games, and tasting kumys, baursaks, and nauryz-köje. For many of them, this was their first introduction to the rich cultural heritage of Kazakhstan, leaving them with unforgettable impressions.
The University’s leadership also attended the event, emphasizing the importance of preserving and promoting national traditions among the youth. This ethnovillage became not just part of the celebration, but a place of strength, a spiritual return to roots, reminding everyone that Kazakh culture is a living history that we create together!
