Navruz Nowruz ( fa, نوروز, ; ), zh, 诺鲁孜节, ug, نەۋروز, ka, ნოვრუზ, ku, Newroz, he, נורוז, kk, Наурыз, ky, Нооруз, mn, Наурыз, ur, نوروز, tg, Наврӯз, tr, Nevruz, tk, Nowruz, ...

( uz, Navroʻz / Наврўз) is celebrated widely in

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked co ...

. It is the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been celebrated on the territory corresponding to modern-day Uzbekistan for at least two thousand years. Nowruz widely celebrated on a vast territory of Central Asia and ritual practice acquired its special features. The festival was legitimized by prayers at mosques, and visits to the mazars of Muslim saints and to sacred streams. In the Emirate of Bukhara, a broad official celebration of Nowruz was started by Amir Muzaffar, who sought to strengthen the image of the Manghyt dynasty during the crisis of political legitimacy.Malikov A.M., The celebration of Nawruz in Bukhara and Samarkand in ritual practice and social discourse (the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century) in Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. volume 48. issue 2. 2020, p.124. When Uzbekistan was part of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

, celebrations of Navruz were generally unofficial, and at times even prohibited. Currently Navruz is an official public holiday in Uzbekistan and is always celebrated on March 21. Still, holiday celebrations are spread out over several days.

Navruz customs

In preparation for the holiday, people tidy their homes and ''mahallas'' (neighborhoods), and buy new clothes. Before, during, and after Navruz, it is customary to prepare '' sumalak'', the main ceremonial dish of the holiday. Sumalak is a sweet paste made entirely from germinated wheat and is cooked in a large ''kazan''. To prepare ''sumalak'' friends, relatives, and neighbors – usually women – gather around the ''kazan'', all taking a turn to stir the mixture. When ready, ''sumalak'' is distributed among neighbors, relatives, and friends. At Navruz, people also visit relatives and friends and give presents to children. Navruz is often cited as the most popular holiday in Uzbekistan. On March 21, elaborate holiday concerts are organized across the country, notably in the capital city of

Tashkent Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of 2 ...

. Book fairs, concerts, games, and special televisision and radio programs last for the whole month of March. It has been noted that after Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, government officials have promoted Navruz as a main national holiday and have tightly controlled the content and form of the festivities.

References

External links

Navruz in Uzbekistan
{{New Year by Calendar March observances

Nowruz Public holidays in Uzbekistan Society of Uzbekistan