Nauryz in Kazakhstan: Reinvention from Colonial Times to Late Soviet Era

Nauryz — celebrated in Kazakhstan each spring on March 22–24 and often known as the “traditional Kazakh New Year” — has a long and fascinating history of transformation. Far from being a timeless ritual, Nauryz has been continuously reimagined through shifting political and cultural contexts. This talk explores how Nauryz evolved from its religious associations in the colonial period, when it was closely linked to Islam, into a symbol of national identity. Despite its official ban by the Soviet authorities in 1926, the celebration persisted in local communities and later reemerged during the late Soviet period, marked by liberalization. By tracing these reinventions, the talk reveals how Nauryz reflects broader changes in Kazakh society — from colonial rule to socialist modernization — and how traditions are reshaped to fit new political and cultural realities.