Nauryz Celebration event - Central Asian New Year
The roof of the yurt used to host Nauryz Festival celebrations
On Thursday 18 March 2021, Professor Jacqueline Lo, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) spoke at the opening ceremony of an event to celebrate the Central Asian New Year - also known as Nauryz Festival, held by the Central Asian Society in Adelaide (CASA), the Tatar Bashkurt Association in Australia and the Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women's Association.
CASA's goals are to support new students from Central Asia, collaborate on research projects, and to promote and foster relationships between Australia and Central Asian countries. This year CASA, with support from the Adelaide University Union, organised a festival dedicated to Nauryz - traditional Central Asian New Year from March 18 - 20. Nauryz is one of the most important holidays in the Central Asian calendar, and is celebrated over several days, marking the beginning of Spring.
Professor Jacqueline Lo, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) speaks at the opening ceremony of Nauryz Festival.
CASA member Alfinura Sharafeyeva performing traditional dance as part of the opening ceremony.
The Festival is taking place inside and outside of the nomads’ traditional house – the Yurt - which was assembled on the University of Adelaide Maths Lawns. The Festival consists of short face-to-face and online lectures under the theme Central Asia: from geological formation to modern states, presented by academics from various fields and universities, including the University of Adelaide, Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan), London University College and Cambridge University (UK).
Other Festival activities also include a Central Asian bazaar with handcrafted goods and traditional food, a screening of Kazakh historical movie The Legend of Tomiris, traditional games, performances, and workshops. The Festival culminates in a concert on Saturday 20 March.
For further information about the event, please visit the event page on Facebook.