Uzbekistan Events and Festivals

Note that some Muslim festivals fall on different dates every year, as they are timed according to local sightings of different phases of the moon. The exact dates are established by presidential decree.

New Year's Day
The new year is celebrated by the Uzbek people with a great deal of celebration, including the decoration of a New Year tree and the preparation of a family feast. Outdoor festivities take place country-wide and a variety of entertainment programs are broadcast on television.

Navruz
Navruz a national holiday in Uzbekistan, with celebrations held nationwide for this springtime holiday of renewal. This marks the beginning of a new year for Central Asia and has always been a pagan holiday, with people from all ethnic groups joining in celebration. In the days leading up to Navruz, most people engage in volunteer work, in groups (known as khashar), cleaning and decorating their cities or villages. Sumptuous meals are served, signifying the hope that the coming year will be bountiful. The main dish is called sumalyak and it is served only once each year. It’s made from the sprouts of wheat grains, which symbolise eternal life and wheat flour, and has the consistency of a thick cream, with a distinctive and pleasant flavour. Sumalyak is offered as a treat to the members of the family members, guests and neighbours. According to tradition, on this holiday people forgive one another for all past offences and renew friendships. The lonely, poor and sick are visited and are given special care and gifts.

Folklore-ethnographical Exhibitions (Karshi)
Karshi is a centre for folklore and hosts exhibitions in the springtime. One of the interesting stories regarding Karshi involves how it got its name. As the story goes, there was a lovely village called Nasaf that consisted basically of just a castle and was ruled a king named Mahmut Ratshah. He lived in Nasaf with his family and they were very happy, until one day the army of Ruzakovski came and tried to take the castle. The people were able to resist this attempt and subsequent ones – to the point that the head of the attacking army admitted defeat by the people and their castle and named the castle ‘Karshi’, which in the Uzbek language means ‘against us.’ Karshi’s name was changed at least seven times, over the years. The exhibition in April highlights the folklore of the region.

The Open Folklore Festival (Boysun)
In 2001, UNESCO declared Boysun a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.’ The interest in this unique region has continued to develop through its annual Open Folklore Festival called ‘Boysun Bahori’; a festival celebrating co-operation, friendship and peace. Concerts and exhibitions of folk crafts are accompanied by a number of competitions. There are also traditional musicians, epic narrators, traditional musicians and designers of traditional fashion. A special parade of folklore ensembles is a focal point of the festival.

Festival of Folk Art (Margilan)
Margilan and Rishtan are among the oldest and most important centres for ceramics in Uzbekistan. By the beginning of the 20th century most of the population consisted of potters and the fine quality of the region’s clay allowed it to be used without refinement or mixing. Potters extracted fire-clay, various dyes and quartz sand from the mountains to use in their unique designs. The blue ceramics from Margilan and Rishtan are crafted in a wide variety of forms, such as lyagans, which are large dishes, assorted bowls for food and milk, vases and jugs for water and fruits, and hums, which are large containers for cereals and oil.
The range in ornamental patterns in the ceramics here is one of the richest in Central Asia and includes geometrical and plant patterns, signs, symbols and images. By the latter half of the 20th century, the traditional centres were in decline and the production of articles featuring the ‘shkor’ glaze had practically ceased. The All-Union Conference of Art Critics held in Ferghana in 1974 considered these problems and it was resolved to bring attention to this region and its ceramic traditions in order to ensure the continuation of blue ishkor ceramics, which in turn led to the annual festival held here.

Festival of Uzbek Plov (Bukhara)
Plov is the national dish of Uzbekistan and a daily staple; some report 200 ways of preparing it, while others, more than 1000. The main ingredients, such as meat, onion, carrot, rice and oil do not change but it’s the creativity that follows the basics that you can sample at this festival in Bukhara: plov with quince, Turkish peas, eggs, or even pomegranate. A suitable beverage to accompany the dish is a matter of controversy, but what is a given is that it is accompanied by gap. This Uzbek slang best translates this as a ‘chat’ which occurs in tea houses, where patrons cook their own plov while enjoying the gap.

International Music Festival ‘Shark Taronalari’
This annual music festival has become quite prestigious and very popular since it was first held in Samarkand in 1997. Samarkand was chosen as the venue due to its significance in Uzbek heritage: an ancient hub of the Great Silk Road and a repository of Uzbek culture. Folk music performers from more than 30 countries entertain, with the most recent festival attracting visitors from over 50 countries.

Independence Day
Independence Day is considered the most important holiday in Uzbekistan. The country gained independence in 1991 and the occasion has been celebrated on 1 September since that time. Outdoor fetes and concerts are staged in all towns, villages and cities in Uzbekistan. Tashkent boasts the major event, which is held on the main stage at Alisher Navoiy National Park, beginning with a speech to the nation by the country’s president and followed by a performance staged by the best of Uzbekistan’s actors, dancers and singers. Arts, crafts, folklore, ethnic cuisine and a dramatic fireworks display fill out the day’s offerings.

Children’s Peace and Disarmament Festival (Samarkand)
This event was organised under the motto: ‘War Is Not a Game. Why Play War Toys? Peace Begins With Me.’ Children take part in this event aimed at fostering peace, by trading in military toys for creative, non-violent ones and then sign an International Children's Disarmament Treaty. All participants also receive an educational toy, game or materials such as paints, crayons, books, crafts and nature kits. Events include art competitions, concert programs, cartoon shows and exhibitions. The aim of the festival is to foster in children, beginning at an early age, a constructive, creative and peaceful vision of life and nature.

Pakhta-Bairam Harvest Festival (Nukus)
This harvest festival is traditionally held in December and features horse racing and wrestling competitions among local athletes (known as palvans). There are also Kok-Pary national games, a Kuzkuu traditional competition (in which the contestant must tag a running girl), ram fighting and cock fighting. Nukus is the capital of Karakalpakstan, which is an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan.

New Year’s Day: 1 January
Day of Motherland Defenders: 14 January
Kurban Khait (Feast of the Sacrifice): Date varies every year
International Women’s Day: 8 March
Navruz: 21 March
Labour Day: 1 May
Prophet’s Birthday: Dare varies every year
Day of Memory and Honour: 9 May
Independence Day: 1 September
Ramadan Khait (End of Ramadan): Date varies every year
Flag Day: 8 November
Constitution Day: 8 December