Navruz

Origins and history

Navruz has been observed in the territory of modern Uzbekistan for at least two thousand years. Over centuries in Central Asia, local rituals developed around the festival, incorporating prayers at mosques, journeys to sacred streams, and visits to the shrines of Muslim saints. In the nineteenth century, ruler Muzaffar bin Nasrullah of the Emirate of Bukhara organized broad official festivities to support the standing of the Manghud dynasty. During Soviet rule, public observances were often informal or restricted. Following national independence in 1991, the state established Navruz as a major national holiday with structured public celebrations.

Preparing sumalak

The signature culinary tradition of Navruz is the preparation of sumalak, a sweet paste cooked from sprouted wheat. The cooking takes place before, during, and after the holiday in a large pot known as a kazan. Preparing sumalak is a shared social effort, typically bringing together women from the family and neighborhood. Participants gather around the cauldron and take turns stirring the mixture so it cooks evenly. Once finished, families portion out the sweet paste and give it away to friends, relatives, and neighbors.

Community customs and events

Preparations begin with thorough cleaning of homes and mahallas, which are traditional residential quarters. People also purchase new clothes to wear for the holiday. Families visit one another and present children with small gifts. Across Uzbekistan, March is filled with cultural events, including book fairs, traditional games, and special radio and television broadcasts. In Tashkent, the capital, large stage concerts bring together performers for public holiday shows.

How Navruz is kept

Before the holiday, residents clean their houses and local neighborhoods, known as mahallas, while shopping for new garments. Friends, relatives, and neighbors, mostly women, assemble to stir a large pot of sumalak over many hours. On the equinox, families exchange visits, share portions of the sweet wheat dish, present gifts to children, and attend community concerts and games.

When and where

Navruz is an official public holiday held on 21 March each year, coinciding with the vernal equinox. Festivities often span several days, and related cultural events, games, and broadcasts continue throughout the entire month of March.

The festival takes place nationwide across Uzbekistan, from residential mahalla neighborhoods to city centers. Major state concerts and cultural gatherings are held in the capital city of Tashkent, as well as historic regional hubs like Bukhara.

What Navruz means

Navruz marks the vernal equinox and the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The gathering of neighbors around the cooking pot to stir sumalak and the cleaning of local mahallas reflect community cooperation, renewal, and mutual support as the new season begins.

On the table

• Sumalak

Questions people ask about Navruz

See also

NowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsLosarThe Tibetan Buddhist New Year festival of renewal, offerings, and family feastsUgadiA South Indian New Year feast celebrating life with sweet, sour, and bitter tastesMay DayA traditional European festival welcoming summer with greenery, dances and bonfires

Good reading and sources

• Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, NavruzUNESCO, Heritage listing
• Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, NavruzUNESCO, Article

• Navruz in Uzbekistan on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.