On March 22, 2025, Kazan will host the Novruz celebration, observed in countries with Turkic-speaking populations, including Turkmenistan.
The festival, marking the arrival of spring, the awakening of nature, and the beginning of a new year according to the natural calendar, will take place at the House of Friendship of Peoples of Tatarstan. The organizers are the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, the State Budgetary Institution "House of Friendship of Peoples of Tatarstan", and the Regional Public Organization "Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan".
Numerous events are expected, including concerts, an exhibition and fair of folk arts and crafts, master classes dedicated to the traditions and culture of these peoples, the "Nauruz Guzäle" and "Nauruz Batyr" contests, and traditional folk games and amusements of the Novruz festival.
A significant part of the celebration will be the demonstrating of national dishes.
On March 21, Kazan will prepare Sumalak, the main delicacy of the Novruz festival. This delicious and nutritious dish, which restores strength and invigorates, is made from germinated wheat grains that are ground and then boiled in a cauldron with the addition of flour for 20-24 hours. Stirring the viscous mass for a long time is quite difficult, so a large number of people participate in the preparation of the dish, taking turns at the cauldron. This explains the tradition of preparing Sumalak by the entire mahalla (neighborhood), with singing, dancing, and cheerful refrains.
Small stones are placed on the bottom of the cauldron to prevent the Sumalak from burning. If such a stone is found while eating, a wish should be made.
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