Every March, Kazakhs welcome spring with a sacred fire at the top of Mount Otpan in Mangystau. As the sun revives the pastures essential to nomadic life, steppe dwellers reunite in warm embraces. 

The festival sweeps across Kazakhstan, culminating in Astana’s grand celebrations on 21 and 22 March. The city’s squares pulse with nomadic sports such as the knucklebones game. With bowls of nauryz kozhe flowing, handicrafts and vibrant steppe melodies, visitors are immersed in the spirit of renewal, unity and tradition at this centuries-old festival.