Cultural Heritage - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 26

Halloween in Kazakhstan: A Creative Celebration of Global Culture

Halloween is an ancient pagan festival firmly rooted in the West, but despite being alien to the country's indigenous culture, it is becoming ever more popular in Kazakhstan, especially among young people. Although embraced by young Kazakhs, Halloween is not celebrated in the classical sense. On the streets you are unlikely to meet crowds of children dressed as witches, ghouls and vampires, collecting candy from houses. Instead, it has become a symbol of fun, freedom of self-expression, and an opportunity to create and experience something new and unusual. In Almaty, Astana, and in other major cities in the country, many clubs, cafes and bars host Halloween-themed parties attended by people in fancy dress. Every year the costumes become more and more creative, for, after all, Halloween is not just an opportunity to dress up, but also a great chance for participants to demonstrate their design and artistic skills. Many of the staged events include contests for the most creative and frightening costumes, as well as themed music, dancing and cocktails, and as student Serzhan from Almaty told TCA, provide “an opportunity to have fun with friends and to reincarnate our favorite characters from movies and TV series.” [caption id="attachment_25000" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Photo: TCA, Tamila Olzhbaekova[/caption] In addition to parties, Halloween movie nights are likewise, growing in popularity. Students and groups of friends gather to watch classic horror movies or novelties of the genre, often at home, but sometimes in student dormitories or cafes. For many, like Camilla, a university student in Astana, it has become an annual tradition: “We get together with friends every year on Halloween, watch horror movies until the early hours and argue whose costume is the creepiest.” Some movie theaters have now begun to support the trend by offering special repertoires for Halloween week, including screenings of films such as “Scream” and “Spellbound”. As is to be expected, social media also plays a key role in popularizing Halloween in Kazakhstan. On platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, local youth use Halloween as an occasion to post creative content: makeup, makeup videos, photo and video shoots with themed costumes. In this context, Halloween has become a kind of cultural phenomenon for self-expression. Companies also use social media to create a festive mood and offer seasonal discounts. Despite its growing popularity, the overall response to Halloween in Kazakhstan remains divided. For some people, it is associated with Western influences that contradict local cultural and religious traditions. For many young people, however, it is simply a fun holiday that has no deep meaning, but rather an excuse to immerse oneself in an atmosphere of mysticism and creativity. “For me, Halloween is not a religious holiday, just an opportunity to have fun with friends,” shared Altair, a student from Almaty. She, like many others, sees nothing contradictory to her culture in the celebration of Halloween, and simply enjoys participating in themed events.

Cultural Heritage Central Asia Home Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan Features International Affairs Uzbekistan Home Features Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan’s Cricket Team: We’re Ready For International Matches

Supporters of Uzbek sport have had a lot to celebrate this year. The national football team currently sits at the top of its qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while eight of the country's athletes took gold at this summer's Paris Olympics. But next year Uzbekistan wants to enter the world stage in a more surprising sport: cricket. The Central Asian country joined the game's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), in 2022. As an “Associate” ICC member there are hopes that the Uzbek squad will play its first international matches in 2025, in the Twenty20 (T20) version of the game. T20 games are much shorter than traditional five-day Test matches. The nation's rapid progress is due to Aziz Mihliev, the owner of Tashkent pharmaceutical company Anfa. Mihliev fell in love with the game while living in India, where cricket is the national sport. As the founder and chairman of the O’zbekiston Kriket Federatsiyasi (Uzbekistan Cricket Federation), Mihliev has created the Anfa Cricket Academy in the capital's Yunusobod district, where three practice pitches cover a school playground. The federation invites students at Tashkent’s sports colleges to the academy to try their hand at cricket. Many of the players picked to wear the red and dark blue striped jerseys of the new Anfa Cricket Club are also talented tennis players. Mihliev has also built a cricket ground outside the capital, towards the town of Chirchiq, where a game between Salar Stars and Ferghana Rangers will be played this Sunday. There are plans to turn an abandoned Soviet-era stadium outside Samarkand into Uzbek cricket's second home. Travelling to represent Uzbekistan at global ICC conferences, Mihliev speaks with the ambition of a man who now rubs shoulders with the most influential people in the sport. From one such trip he writes: "My ambition is to see an Uzbekistan national team play a Test match against the England team. And win, of course!" Over 4,000 Uzbeks now play the game regularly at schools and universities, from Tashkent in the north of the country to the southern Surkhandaryo region. Surkhandaryo borders Afghanistan, a passionate cricketing nation that reached the semi-finals of this year's men’s T20 World Cup. And it was to Afghanistan that Mihliev turned when recruiting a former international player to train his national team. Khaliq Dad Noori played a few games for Afghanistan at the beginning of the 2010s, when his own country was at the start of its journey to the top of world cricket. Noori coaches his players in the Pashto language, which his Uzbek students can understand. But cricket in Uzbekistan still has a local flavour. Hitting techniques come straight from games of chilla, an old pastime played with sticks. Bats are known as tuqmoq – the name of a wooden club that Uzbek warriors used to brandish. Although some of Uzbekistan’s best cricketers have only been playing for a year or two, judging by the talent on show during a practice session they would beat most...

Cultural Heritage Silk Road Treasures Central Asia Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Features Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan International Affairs

Two Lost Silk Road Cities Unearthed in Uzbekistan

Aided by laser-based technology, archaeologists in south-east Uzbekistan, have discovered two lost cities that once thrived along the Silk Road from the 6th to 11th centuries AD. As reported by Reuters, one was a center for the metal industry, and the other, indicates early Islamic influence. Located some five kilometers apart, these early fortified outposts are among the largest found on the mountainous sections of the Silk Road. “These cities were completely unknown. We are now working through historical sources to find possible undiscovered places that match our findings,” said archaeologist and lead author of the report, Michael Frachetti of Washington University in Saint Louis. The researchers state that the most expansive of the two, Tugunbulak, covered about 300 acres (120 hectares) and in existence from around 550 to 1000 AD, boasted a population of tens of thousands. As such, it was one of the largest cities of its time in Central Asia, rivaling even the famed trade hub Samarkand, situated about 110 km away, and according to Frachetti, many times larger and more enigmatic than other highland castles or settlements that have been documented in high-elevation Central Asia." The other city, Tashbulak, inhabited from around 730-750 to 1030-1050 AD, was only a tenth the size of its neighbor, with a population perhaps in the thousands. After discovering the first signs of the cities' existence, archaeologists employed drone-based lidar - a technology that floods the landscape with lasers to measure the topography - to map and establish the size and layout of the sites. Findings revealed highly defined structures, plazas, fortifications, roads, homes, and other urban features. An initial dig at one of Tugunbulak’s buildings, fortified with thick earthen walls, uncovered kilns and furnaces, suggesting it was a factory wherein, metalsmiths turned local iron ore into steel. During the 9th and 10th centuries, the region was known for its steel production and researchers are now analyzing slag found on-site to confirm their hypothesis that in addition to trade in livestock and related products such as wool, the metal industry may have been a central feature of Tugunbulak’s economy. According to Franchetti, “Tugunbulak, in particular, complicates much of the historical understanding of the early medieval political economy of the Silk Routes, placing both political power and industrial production far outside the regional ‘breadbaskets’ such as Samarkand." As stated in the report, Tashbulak lacked the industrial scale of Tugunbulak but boasted an interesting cultural feature: a large cemetery that reflects the early spread of Islam in the region. Its 400 graves—for men, women, and children—include some of the oldest Muslim burials documented in the area.“The cemetery is mismatched to the small size of the town," said Frachetti. "There's definitely something ideologically oriented around Tashbulak that has people being buried there." Tugunbulak and Tashbulak are especially remarkable given their altitude, which is roughly comparable to that of the later Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru, and as noted by Frachetti, “The key finding of this study is the existence of large, fortified, and...

Cultural Heritage Central Asia Turkmenistan Life & Culture Turkmenistan Turkmenistan International Affairs International Affairs Turkmenistan Local Politics Local Politics

Ashgabat Hosts Turkic Writers’ Forum

On October 18-19, leading cultural and literary figures gathered in Ashgabat, to attend a forum of Turkic writers organized within the program “Anau—Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024". With a focus on the importance of preserving and developing common cultural heritage, the event attracted representatives of the writers' unions of Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, as well as prominent cultural figures of Turkmenistan. Honored guests included Ulugbek Esdevlet, president of the TURKSOY Writers' Union, and Sultan Raev, secretary general of the organization, who in his address, emphasized: “This forum is a unique platform for demonstrating the rich literary heritage of the Turkic world and passing on our common cultural heritage to future generations.” During the forum, the Union of TURKSOY Writers held a meeting to discuss promising projects for developing the literature of Turkic-speaking peoples, including programs to support young authors, the expansion of translation activities, and the organization of international literary contests. In addition to complementary activities such as poetry readings, the forum afforded students from the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, a unique opportunity to engage with prominent writers.

Cultural Heritage Life & Culture Kazakhstan Life & Culture Kazakhstan

Image of Kelin in Kazakh Films

In Kazakh culture, a special place is occupied by the traditional relationship between yene (mother-in-law) and kelin (daughter-in-law). This relationship is a reflection of family values and cultural norms that have developed over the centuries. In recent years, the theme of yene and kelin has been actively developed in Kazakh cinematography, where directors and screenwriters reveal the depth of these relationships, emphasizing their complexity and multifaceted nature. In a traditional Kazakh family, yene plays an important role. She not only passes on domestic and cultural traditions to the younger generation but also helps the kelin to adapt to the new family. In turn, the kelin is responsible for managing the household and caring for the family, which is perceived as an important and honorable part of her social role. However, this relationship, based on mutual respect and support, is often not without its difficulties. As in any culture, traditions are sometimes the cause of conflict and tension. These complexities, caused by societal expectations and personal ambitions, are reflected in Kazakhstan films, which increasingly focus on the role of the kelin in modern life. The cinematography of Kazakhstan has become a powerful tool for researching and discussing traditional family relations. One of the most popular films on this topic is the comedy film Kelinka Sabina. In this film, the main focus is on the difficulties a young kelin faces when she enters a traditional family. The movie not only demonstrates the clash of cultures but also shows how the characters learn to accept each other despite the differences in outlook and habits. Kelinka Sabina became a sensation in Kazakhstan, not only for its comedic scenes but also for its heartfelt and poignant moments that invite viewers to reflect on family values. The film explores the dynamics between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law while humorously addressing the integration of modernity and tradition, highlighting the challenges of adapting to new ways of life. Another landmark film on this subject is Daughter-in-law is Also Human, which takes a more serious and in-depth look at the issue of female self-identification in traditional society, touching on important topics such as gender stereotypes, prejudice against women, and their role in modern Kazakhstan. The main character has to face the fact that she is expected to fully commit to the traditional role of a kelin, but she strives to maintain her personal space and rights. Her story of self-assertion serves as an example of how young Kazakh women can fight for their rights and change established stereotypes and expectations set by generations. Another film in the same series, Kelinka is Also a Person 2, takes a significant step in addressing the role of women in Kazakh society by broadening perceptions of what it means to be a kelin in the modern world and opening up a discussion on gender roles and women's rights. The image of the kelin in Kazakh films epitomizes the complex and multifaceted aspects of Kazakh culture. The relationship between yene and kelin extends beyond a simple...

Cultural Heritage Central Asia Turkmenistan Life & Culture Life & Culture Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Local Politics Local Politics

Archaeologists unlock Secrets of Ancient Civilization in Turkmenistan

Large-scale archaeological research continues in the Karakum desert at the ancient site of Gonur-Depe. This unique monument, discovered in 1972, is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the ancient civilization Margush, which flourished in the delta of the Murghab River about four millennia ago. The Turkmen-Russian Margush Archaeological Expedition, operating under the international agreement, is nearing the end of another field season. The scientists uniting specialists from the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Turkmen researchers continue painstaking work to study and describe numerous artifacts found at this ancient settlement. The excavation season brought some interesting findings. Among them, a miniature cylindrical seal made of talc-agalmatolite, a fragment of a clay bulla with imprints of a snake-shaped seal, and a unique clay lid from a vessel with imprints of a rope and a cloisonné seal stands out. Of particular interest are sets of semi-precious stone beads found in five burials. The skill of ancient jewelers has astonished modern researchers—some lapis lazuli beads have a diameter of only 1 millimeter. Archaeologists have also conducted research aimed at studying the technologies of ancient builders. For the first time, a gypsum kiln was described in detail, making it possible to reconstruct the technological process of producing building materials in ancient Gonur-Depe. The results of these studies will be presented at an international scientific conference in Ashgabat, where scientists from different countries will discuss the discoveries and their significance as regards understanding the history of the ancient civilization of Margiana. The discoveries made in Gonur-Depe not only shed light on the life of the ancient inhabitants of these places but also emphasize the importance of international cooperation in archaeology and history. Each discovery brings us closer to understanding the rich cultural heritage left by an ancient civilization in the heart of the Karakum desert.