Ambassador: Nauryz Celebration Aligns with Indonesian Culture
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Serzhan Abdykarimov, stated that the Nauryz celebration in his country embodies values that align closely with Indonesian culture.
“The philosophy of Nauryz aligns perfectly with Indonesian values, namely about unity, family, and mutual assistance,” said Abdykarimov during a press conference at the Kazakh Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.
Nauryz is a traditional New Year celebration in Kazakhstan and Central Asia that marks the spring equinox, typically observed for three days from 21 to 23 March.
The Ambassador said Nauryz is more than just a holiday, as it also signifies a great victory of life over the long and harsh winter.
“This is the time when the grasslands come alive, the earth warms, and people celebrate the birth of new life and the renewal of nature,” he said.
The Ambassador assessed that Nauryz is very close to the Indonesian spirit. “At its core, Nauryz is very close to the Indonesian spirit. Just like Eid, Nauryz is a time to forgive old grudges, visit parents, help those in need, and open the doors of the home to every guest,” he said.
In modern Kazakhstan, he said, the Nauryz celebration lasts for ten days – a period known as “Nauryznama”, where this ten-day programme deeply reveals the meaning of the holiday through values that are highly aligned with Indonesian culture.
It was mentioned that the Nauryz celebration begins on 14 March with “Korisu Kuni” (Greeting Day), which becomes the most emotional moment of Nauryznama and has a direct analogy to Indonesian traditions, he said.
On this day, Kazakh people visit each other after the long winter, akin to mudik. The tradition of shaking hands firmly with both hands symbolises maintaining relations, mutual forgiveness, and strengthening family and intergenerational bonds.
The celebration continues with Qayirimdilikh Kuni (15 March), which focuses on charity and social care. On this day, Kazakh people help those in need, reflecting the value of sharing like alms in Indonesia, prioritising collective interests over personal ones.
Next, Cultural Heritage Day (16 March) features the works of artisans, followed by Shanyrak Kuni (17 March), which emphasises family values, and National Costume Day (18 March), which highlights cultural identity.
Subsequently, Zhanaru Kuni (19 March) serves as Renewal Day, followed by National Values Day (20 March) and Yntymak Kuni (21 March), which promotes the spirit of solidarity and gotong royong.
The peak of the celebration falls on Zhyl Basy – Nauryz Meyrami (22 March), marked by the traditional Nauryz-kozhe dish as a symbol of abundance, before concluding with Tazalykh Kuni (23 March) as National Cleaning Day.
Nauryz is included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is recognised by the UN General Assembly as an International Day.
“For Indonesia and Kazakhstan – two countries that uphold hospitality and respect for traditions as the foundation of national identity – this holiday serves as a common language of peace and harmony,” he said.