Tag: Culture
Mosaics – 2 – A fragmented image
Karaganda is a city built from scratch from 1934 onwards, under the direction of architect and urban planner Alexander Ivanovich Kuznetsov. Like many Soviet cities shaped by large-scale construction… [...]
Tajik tradition meets punk: Shahina Olimzade is rewriting the rules of fashion
Tajik fashion designer Shahina Olimzade is challenging traditional dress codes with punk-inspired silhouettes, dark colours and cultural motifs. In an interview with Novastan, she discusses her debut collection QASHANG, her… [...]
Quiet hours
Four women from the ‘Muras’ craft association in Kyzyl Suu, Jeti Oguz district, Kyrgyzstan: the photograph captures the meticulousness and feminine crafts(wo)manship of shyrdak, a Kyrgyz textile craft. [...]
Threshold of light
Bright sunshine and winter cold: ideal conditions for strolling around Registan Square in Samarkand. The stream of tourists, cameras, and colorful flags of organized tours has dissipated,… [...]
“If You’re Scared, You do it Scared”: How Bishkek’s Techno Scene Survives State Repression
Last April, Kyrgyzstan’s special forces carried out heavy-handed raids on two of Bishkek’s most popular electronic-music bars. Expecting a hotspot of drugs and illicit activity, officers found instead a… [...]
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The Museum of Musical Instruments of the tajik capital
Hidden behind a small door on a side street, the Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments showcases the rich musical heritage of Tajikistan and Pamir. The impressive collection of… [...]
The Poets in Unison
This monument, located in the native city of Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, honors the renowned poets Hamid Olimjon and Zulfiya. Depicted side by side, these iconic figures… [...]
Cultural Issues
In the Almaty region, the Soviet-era House of Culture stands as a fading gem. Erdar and Akmaral, its devoted caretakers guard its garden and history. They shared… [...]
How is Kyrgyzstan celebrating Nooruz in 2024?
Everyone in Kyrgyzstan is looking forward to a warm and sunny spring after a long and cold winter. Nooruz marks the astronomical start of the spring, or spring equinox,… [...]
Kazakhstan: commemorating Victory Day without military parade
Similar to last year, May 9 in Kazakhstan is overshadowed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Military parades have been cancelled, once again. Instead, this year’s Victory Day will mainly… [...]
Beyond fun and games – the politics of Nowruz
In Central Asia, the beginning of spring is traditionally marked by Nowruz, also known as ‘Persian New Year.’ Typical holiday celebrations include horse games, family visits, and large feasts. [...]
Four Central Asian cultural practices newly inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
A dancing mountain goat, a flowering garden of embroidery, a trickster’s tales, a silken thread spun from a worm’s cocoon – these are the diverse array of Central Asian… [...]