ASTANA (Interfax-Kazakhstan) – Kazakhstan will be celebrating Nauryz (Nowruz) Meiramy, the Iranian New Year, on March 21 to 25 this year.

Kazakhstan formally reinstated Nowruz as a public holiday in 1991. Nauryz (Nowruz) Meiramy is an official state holiday that is celebrated on March 21-23, according to the Kazakh law. As March 21 and 22 fall on Saturday and Sunday, this year the holiday season is extended for the next two working days after the three-day holiday, which are Tuesday and Wednesday. All in all, the Kazakhstanis will be celebrating Nowruz for five days: from March 21 to March 25 including.

Nauryz is the Kazakh pronunciation of the Persian Nowruz (“new day”).

In Kazakhstan, as elsewhere in Iranian tradition countries, it is the custom on the eve of Nowruz to thoroughly clean the house and to prepare a festive meal. In Kazakhstan, the meal is accompanied with Nauriz közhe (yogurt soup) as the key festive dish. During the month, it is customary to plant a tree and clear water wells and springs.