Mongolian Nauryz Festival

What’s included in Nauryz

  • Traditional Food
  • Sunrise

When does Nauryz will Begin?

  • March 21-23 Every Year
  • 4 Days
  • 3 Nights

Танилцуулга

Nauryz (Наурыз) is a traditional celebration of the spring equinox, widely observed by Kazakhs and other Turkic ethnic groups living in Mongolia, particularly in the western regions like Bayan-Ölgii and Khovd provinces. This holiday symbolizes the renewal of nature, the start of a new year, and is a time for people to gather, celebrate, and give thanks for the blessings of the past year while looking forward to a prosperous future. “Nauryz is a Persian-derived word, where ‘nau’ means ‘new’ and ‘ryz’ means ‘day,’ thus it translates to ‘New Day.'”

    • Date and Meaning: • When it’s celebrated: Nauryz is held annually on March 21-22, coinciding with the spring equinox. It marks the day when day and night become equal in length, signifying the start of spring and the agricultural year. • Cultural significance: Nauryz, which translates to "new day," is considered a New Year celebration for those who observe it. It’s a time to renew life, strengthen bonds with family, and wish for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. For the Kazakh people in Mongolia, it is deeply tied to their cultural and ethnic identity.
    • Traditional Customs: • Household preparations: Leading up to Nauryz, families clean their homes thoroughly to welcome in the new year with a fresh start, much like in Tsagaan Sar. Special attention is given to maintaining a clean and harmonious household to ward off bad luck. • Visiting relatives and elders: Similar to many New Year traditions in Central Asia and Mongolia, Nauryz is a time to visit relatives, especially elders, to seek blessings for the year ahead. It’s a moment to reconcile with others and forgive past disputes. • Special greetings: On Nauryz, people greet each other with phrases like "Nauryz kutty bolsyn!" or "Happy Nauryz," which is a way to wish happiness and prosperity for the year to come.
    • Traditional Foods: • Nauryz Koje: The most iconic dish of the Nauryz celebration is Nauryz Koje, a traditional soup made from seven ingredients. These ingredients often include meat, water, salt, wheat or barley, milk, butter, and kefir. The number seven symbolizes prosperity, health, and the renewal of life. • Kymyz (Fermented Mare’s Milk): A popular Kazakh beverage, kymyz, is also widely consumed during Nauryz. It holds special importance as it represents health and vitality. • Other traditional foods such as boortsog (fried dough), dairy products, and various types of meat dishes are served during the celebrations.
    • Cultural Celebrations: • Festivals and public events: During Nauryz, people • • • gather for public celebrations, which include singing, dancing, playing traditional musical instruments, and performing Kazakh folk songs. It is a joyful occasion where people dress in their finest traditional clothing, particularly the colorful Kazakh national dress. • Horse racing and traditional sports: Similar to Mongolian Naadam, sports such as horse racing, wrestling, and traditional games are often part of the Nauryz festivities. These sports represent endurance and skill, important traits in Kazakh culture.
    • Symbolism of Nauryz: • Rebirth and renewal: The holiday reflects the themes of rebirth and renewal, both for individuals and the natural world. As it marks the arrival of spring, people express hopes for health, happiness, and a good harvest in the coming year. • Community and unity: Nauryz promotes a sense of community and unity. It is a time for neighbors and family to come together, share meals, and wish each other well. This strengthens bonds between people, especially in the Kazakh and Turkic communities of Mongolia.
    • Nauryz in Western Mongolia: • Nauryz is especially significant in Mongolia’s Bayan-Ölgii Province, where the majority of the population is ethnically Kazakh. The celebrations here are large and deeply rooted in Kazakh traditions. Although Nauryz is primarily associated with Kazakh people, it has also gained recognition and appreciation among other ethnic groups in Mongolia, contributing to cultural diversity in the country.
    • Nauryz in Mongolia is a rich cultural celebration filled with symbolism, traditional foods, and community gatherings. It marks the renewal of life and the start of a prosperous year, making it an important holiday for the Kazakh people and other Turkic groups in Mongolia. The customs and festivities associated with Nauryz reflect the deep connection to nature, community, and tradition that define the cultures of the western regions of the country.

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