Day of the capital of Kazakhstan (06/07)

On July 6, Kazakhstan celebrates the public holiday — Capital Day, established by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated June 25, 2008 № 47-IV «On introducing an addition to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan» on the initiative of the Mazhilis (lower house of parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan).

This holiday, according to legislators, has important historical and cultural significance for the people and is a symbol of the achievements of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On July 6, 1994, by decree of the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan, the capital was moved from Almaty to Akmola. Akmola's international introduction as the new capital was held in 1998, Akmola was renamed Astana on 6 May 1998. Capital Day in the Republic has been celebrated since the city acquired capital status in 1998. Previously, this holiday was celebrated at the city level on June 10, and in 2006 the city day was moved to July 6.

Today the capital of Kazakhstan is called Astana. Former names of the city: Akmolinsk — 1830-1961, Tselinograd — 1961-1992, Akmola — 1992-1998, Astana — 1998-2019, Nur-Sultan — 2019-2022. In March 2019, the new President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed a decree renaming Astana to Nur-Sultan in honor of the first President of the Republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev, but in September 2022, the capital was renamed back to Astana by presidential decree.

Monument «Baiterek» on Nurzhol Boulevard in Astana (Photo: Kristina Postnikova, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

The main events of the celebration of the Day of the Capital of Kazakhstan are taking place in Astana. Every year, new architectural objects and monuments are opened for the holiday. Thus, in 2007, a monument to the legendary Kazakh commander Bogenbai Batyr was unveiled. The monument, more than 11 meters high, was opened by the deputy akim of the city, Ermek Amanshaev, as part of the celebration of Capital Day.

In the evening, mass festive festivities and a carnival procession and a gala concert take place in Nur-Sultan on the main square of the capital. As usual, top officials of the state take part in it.

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