Nauryz-Feierlichkeiten: Der Shanyrak-Tag – Familie und Tradition im Mittelpunkt.
ASTANA – „May the dome of your yurt remain strong!“ With this wish associated with the Shanyrak, the round crown at the top of the Kazakh yurt, Kazakhstan celebrates Shanyrak Day on March 17 as part of the nationwide Nauryz festivities.
This year, a new format for the Nauryz holiday in Kazakhstan is being introduced. With the introduction of the Nauryznama Decade. From March 14 to 23, the „Shanyrak Day“ is dedicated to honoring family values and includes wedding ceremonies in traditional attire as well as exciting educational and creative events for children.
What is Shanyrak?
The Shanyrak is a cornerstone of the Kazakh yurt, perhaps its most important element. It is the wooden crown of a yurt with a central opening serving as a window through which light enters and smoke escapes. In bad weather, it is closed with a square piece of felt called the Tunduk.
The Shanyrak typically has a diameter of 1 to 5 meters, which corresponds to about one-third of the yurt’s base. Poles are attached to the Shanyrak, the lower ends of which are fastened to the wooden framework of the yurt.
It forms the structural foundation positioned on the roof of the dwelling. As designer and architect Timur Suleimenov once remarked, „This embodies the brilliance of the architectural thinking of our ancestors, which repeatedly astonishes Europeans: The foundation rests on the ceiling.“
Symbol of a Family
The Shanyrak is a powerful symbol that transcends time and place and has become a symbol of unity and family for the Kazakh people. In Kazakh culture, it served as a family relic, symbolizing the maintenance of the lineage. Under no circumstances was it allowed to be overturned or dropped.
The Shanyrak also serves as a visual representation of Kazakh cultural customs, emphasizing community spirit and family cooperation. Numerous Kazakh sayings and expressions about family include the word „Shanyrak.“
Passed down from generation to generation, it was bestowed upon the youngest son, to whom the title „Shanyrak iesi“ was entrusted, meaning „Guardian of the Shanyrak.“ „Raising a Shanyrak“ means in traditional Kazakh expression to designate a place as home.
Kazakh elders utter the blessings of Bata and may say „Shanyragyn Shaikalmasyn,“ which means „May the dome of your house remain strong and unshaken.“ This expression symbolizes the wish for peace and harmony within the family.
The length of a family’s heritage can be measured by the accumulation of spots on the Shanyrak caused by decades of smoke. Therefore, a tribal house is often referred to as a „black Shanyrak.“
Shanyrak Unites All Nations
Kazakhstan has long been considered a melting pot of different cultures and has incorporated the Shanyrak as a symbol of the harmonious coexistence of all nations living in the country into its national emblem.
The central figure of the national emblem is a Shanyrak. Just as the strength and stability of the Shanyrak depend on the reliability of all its Uyks (Poles), the sustainable development of Kazakhstan depends on the well-being of every citizen.
