Navruz Holiday
The Navruz holiday in Uzbekistan is one of the most beloved,
colorful and fun-filled celebrations in the country. It is celebrated
on March 21, the spring equinox when daylight and darkness are
of equal length. Its history can be traced back more than three
thousand years to Khorasan Province in northeastern Iran, from
where it eventually spread to West and Central Asia.
Navruz (also spelled Nowruz) has its roots in the ancient cult of
sun worship and Zoroastrianism, which were once widespread in
all of Persia and Central Asia. Navruz first received official status
under the Achaemenid Dynasty in the 4th-5th centuries BC, at
which time it evolved from an agricultural ritual into a Zoroastrian
holiday. Navruz has long been regarded as the traditional New
Year for Turkic and Iranian peoples as well as for some
Europeans, and the name “Navruz” itself translates from Farsi as
New Day. Today it is associated with the rebirth of nature, new
life, joy and kindness.
Navruz is one of the most anticipated public holidays of the year.
Celebrations can last for 2-3 days, although most public events
are held on March 21st. Lively folk festivals spill over into lavishly
decorated village streets, while at city fairs every variety of
souvenir can be purchased. In rural areas, traditional sports
competitions attract enthusiastic audiences. Especially popular
are equestrian tournaments, horseback wrestling and the national
game
kupkari
, in which two teams on horseback battle over a
goat carcass.
Navruz in Uzbekistan is closely associated with new hopes and
expectations. Many believe that good deeds will bring fortune in
the coming year, and therefore everyone tries to forgive their
enemies, avoid arguments and extend help to those in need
during the holiday. It is customary to welcome many guests into
your home and to visit others in return.
Another symbol associated with the traditional Uzbekistan New
Year is abundance, a quality most keenly experienced in the
baking and sharing of holiday treats. When the holiday rolls
around, tables are loaded with special homemade dishes - savory
pies, flaky samsas stuffed with spinach and fragrant
plov
, the
national dish of Uzbekistan customarily prepared in steaming
cauldrons over a fire. Traditionally, seven special dishes are
served as a further symbol of fortune for the months to follow.
Among these seven dishes are select foods which are only
prepared during the Navruz holiday in Uzbekistan. One such treat
is
nishalda
, a sweet dessert of egg whites whipped with sugar and
fragrant roots. A hearty alternative is
khalisa
, a conglomerate of 7
cereals and meats which are boiled together.
The most popular and unusual Navruz dish in Uzbekistan,
however, is sumalak, a taffy-like treat prepared from wheat germ
and flour. Although customarily cooked the night before Navruz,
sumalak can be made any time in early spring. The tedious
process involves cooking the newly sprouted wheat in a huge
cauldron over the course of 24 hours. During this time the mixture
should be stirred constantly, and in order to accomplish the task
friends, relatives and neighbors are invited to come and help. The
mostly female crowd gathers around the pot to sing songs, laugh,
gossip, eat and take turns stirring the pot, making a wish as they
do so. The joy-filled day and night is the perfect picture of close-
knit Uzbek communities, where people living side-by-side willingly
help one another and shar
e in each other’s’ joy. Once cooked,
jars of warm sumalak are distributed to many people to be
savored during the Navruz season.
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |