How will the country prepare for this rare event if the third Saturday of March becomes the day of two significant holidays?
First of all, it is worth noting the weekend schedule. Despite the fact that March 21 will be a Saturday this year, the new provisions of the Labor Code do not provide for the transfer of the weekend to Monday. This means that Kyrgyzstanis will celebrate both holidays within the framework of the usual weekends.
“There is currently no information on the exact date of the Ait celebration, but if it falls on a Saturday, the weekend will not be moved,” representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration reported.
The Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy has already begun preparations for the celebration, choosing Naryn as the main venue for Nowruz. The program of events is in the approval stage. It is expected that President Sadyr Japarov will participate in the festivities.
“If Orozo Ait does indeed take place on March 21, then in the morning, as is customary, the festive Ait namaz will be held, after which the Nowruz celebrations will continue,” the ministry's press service explained.
Mars Ibraev, a member of the Council of Ulema, noted that both holidays have different natures and do not contradict each other. According to him, Orozo Ait is celebrated after 29 or 30 days of fasting, depending on the appearance of the moon. This is a religious aspect, and the date of Orozo Ait cannot be changed due to state holidays or other dates.
“Nowruz is a state-level holiday that will be celebrated independently. Muslims will celebrate Orozo Ait according to religious traditions. These holidays do not interfere with each other, and there is no reason to oppose them,” he emphasized.
We remind you that for many years, festive Ait namaz has traditionally taken place in central squares in Kyrgyzstan. In 2020-2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this tradition was temporarily suspended; however, subsequently, prayers in the open air resumed. Starting in 2024, it has been decided to hold festive namaz exclusively in mosques.
