Discussing Nowruz Holiday Traditions at Regional Level

The roundtable “Nowruz as Symbol of Cultural Integration of Russia and Central Asian States” has been held in Astrakhan. It has been arranged by the Center of Eurasian Political Research operating at Astrakhan State University and by the Uzbekistan, which is Astrakhan Region’s public organization of Uzbek culture.

After greeting the participants, Mr. Bakhodir Aminov, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan public organization, has paid special attention to the fact that the Uzbek ethnic community initiated celebration of Nowruz in Astrakhan at the regional level.

Ms. Violetta Aksyonova, Acting Chief of the Interethnic Unit of the Internal Policy Department of the Administration of Astrakhan Region’s Governor, has briefly told about the history of Nowruz and remarked that this holiday is a good tradition for our Region, that it is essential to develop interethnic relations.

Mr. Andrey Syzranov, Director of the Center of Eurasian Political Research of ASU, has continued the historical theme. He has told much about Nowruz holiday traditions of peoples living in the North Caspian littoral region; most of those traditions exist nowadays. People of practically any ethnic origin celebrate Nowruz in Astrakhan Region’s villages.

Dr. Victor Viktorin, Astrakhan’s well-known historian and ethnologist, remarked that it is important to tell Nowruz from typologically similar holidays. On the one hand, they all symbolize coming spring and leaving winter, but on the other hand, each of those events has its own specifics. He also said that Nowruz in the Caspian Region has its peculiar features.

As for Mr. Rasul Shugaipov from the Astrakhan Regional Research Center of Folk Culture, he has told about activities that this institution performs to arrange celebration of Nowruz in Astrakhan Region. He pointed out that such holidays help young people feel customs and traditions of Eurasia’s peoples.

Mr. Dzhuma Vokhidov, Chairperson of Astrakhan Region’s public organization of Tajik culture, pointed out that Nowruz is a holiday that unites numerous nations: the Tajiks, the Uzbeks, the Kazakhs, the Azerbaijanis, peoples of Dagestan, etc. Now that former Soviet republics act as independent countries, common cultural traditions (in particular, celebration of common holidays) become a favorable base for the Eurasian integration.

Mr. Gabil Dzhavadov, Deputy Chairperson of Astrakhan Region’s public organization of Azerbaijani culture, has told about traditions of celebrating Nowruz in Azerbaijan.

Mr. Rishat Sapanov from Astrakhan Region’s public organization of Kazakh culture said that Nowruz is a traditional holiday for the Kazakhs as well. He also paid everyone’s attention to the fact that Astrakhan Region celebrates Nowruz in April (not on March 21, as it should be), since April is a warmer month and more people could take part in outdoor celebration events.

Mr. Azamat Aminov, Chairperson of Astrakhan Region’s public organization of Uzbek culture, remarked that more and more young people are taking part in celebration of Nowruz. Mr. Dmitry Ruban, Deputy Dean of the Department of Foreign Students of Astrakhan State Medical University, fully supported this point; he said that young students always participate in all the ethnic holidays actively.

Volunteers of the Uzbekistan public organization have cooked Uzbek national dishes and a concert program that included recitations of poems and performance of Uzbek songs dedicated to Nowruz.

Russian original information and photo source: the Center of Eurasian Political Research