Kazakhstan
Festivals in Kazakhstan
A reflection of country's unique ethnic and religious composition can be found in most of the festivals in Kazakhstan. The customs of the nomadic people and the Middle Eastern influences can be easily recognized while enjoying the traditional festivals of the country.
Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan
Until the 1950s Astana (Aqmola), was a tiny mining town. Then Nikita Khruschev announced his Virgin Lands scheme to turn 250,000 sq km of Kazakhstan steppe into wheat fields.
Religions in Kazakhstan
By tradition, Kazakhs are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school. The Kazakhs adopted Islam gradually, with complete conversion only in the early 19th century.