Nowruz in Uzbekistan

Nataev: New article

---

[[File:Folk Festival to Celebrate the New Year. Carousel WDL10784.png|thumb|Children celebrating Nowruz in 19th-century Uzbekistan]]
'''[[Nowruz]]''' or '''Navruz''' () is celebrated widely in [[Uzbekistan]]. It is the day of the [[equinox|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.<ref name="Sahadeo">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>

When Uzbekistan was part of the [[Soviet Union]], celebrations of Novruz were generally unofficial, and at times even prohibited.<ref name="Tursunova">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Currently Nowruz is an official public holiday in Uzbekistan and is always celebrated on March 21. Still, holiday celebrations are spread out over several days.

== Nowruz customs ==
In preparation for the holiday, people tidy their homes and ''mahallas'' (neighborhoods), and buy new clothes. Before, during, and after Nowruz, it is customary to prepare ''[[Samanu|sumalak]]'', the main ceremonial dish of the holiday. Sumalak is a sweet paste made entirely from [[Wheat sprout|germinated wheat]] and is cooked in a large [[Kazan (cookware)|''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 Nowruz, people also visit relatives and friends and give presents to children.

Nowruz is often cited as the most popular holiday in Uzbekistan.<ref name="Sahadeo"/> On March 21, elaborate holiday concerts are organized across the country, especially in the capital city of [[Tashkent]]. 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 Nowruz as a main national holiday and have tightly controlled the content and form of the festivities.<ref name="Tursunova"/>

==References==


== External links ==
* [http://bit.ly/2G5lqs7 Nowruz in Uzbekistan]




[[Category:New Year celebrations|Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Uzbekistani society]]
[[Category:Nowruz]]

from Wikipedia - New pages [en] http://bit.ly/2FSEY3V
via IFTTT