How Celebrate Nauryz in Kazakhstan

This holiday is a celebration of the Islamic New Year.  After Kazakhstan received its independence from Soviet Union, our citizens began celebrating this holiday, and in 2001 Nauryz was announced as a National holiday.  We celebrate this wonderful holiday in late March, and we celebrate it in different ways. People set up yurts in big cities, villages, and neighborhoods and decorate inside of the the yurts.  Also, people wear traditional Kazakh outfits in order to show our guests our culture.  A big parade is always organized on the main streets.  Besides, people tries to visit seven different places or have seven guests because the number seven is holy in Islam.  Then, every family prepares a popular meat dish that is made from mutton, horsemeat, and wide noodles.  It is so interesting to see how people on the streets taste other traditional dishes which is prepared from seven ingredients.  As a rule we have a big concert with popular and beloved national singers on the New Square. At the same time, everybody likes to make gifts for each other.  It can be not an expensive gift, but it is more important to show the appreciation and respect to each other.  Some of the more exciting pastimes are different cultural events and games.  For example, it is very popular games while riding horses.  Nauryz gives people the opportunity to begin the New Year with fun, forgivness, appreciation, and hope.  I believe that this famous holiday Nauryz brings citizen of Kazakhstan all what they wish for the New Year.