THE CONCEPT OF SACREDNESS IN CENTRAL ASIA (The Case of Kazakhstan)

Batyrkhan Zhumabaу, Artykbayev Zhambyl

doi:10.37238/2960-1371.2960-138X.2025.100(4).173

Batyrkhan Zhumabaу, Artykbayev Zhambyl L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University Republic of Kazakhstan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37238/2960-1371.2960-138X.2025.100(4).173

Keywords: sacralization, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, sacred sites, national identity, spiritual culture, cultural heritage, Ruhani Zhangyru, sacred geography, traditions, historical memory, cultural uniqueness.

Abstract

This article explores the concept of sacredness as a key element of the spiritual and cultural identity of the peoples of Central Asia, with a particular focus on Kazakhstan. Sacredness in this context encompasses a wide range of phenomena — from religious sites and natural landscapes to historical monuments associated with spiritual traditions and national memory. The analysis pays special attention to the state project «Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan», implemented within the framework of the program «Course towards the Future: Modernization of Kazakhstan’s Identity» (Bolashaqqa Bağdar: Ruhani Jańǵyru). This project aims to systematize and promote sacred sites as a foundation for strengthening the national code and fostering cultural self-awareness.

The article reveals how sacred places serve not only as objects of reverence but also as powerful symbols of unity, historical continuity, and spiritual revival. The author emphasizes the importance of sacralizing the natural and cultural environment for sustainable development, domestic tourism, and the education of the younger generation. The article also highlights aspects of traditional Kazakh worldview, in which native land, ancestry, and nature are perceived as carriers of sacred meaning.

The material is based on contemporary research and examples relevant to Kazakhstani society and may be of interest to cultural researchers, historians, sociologists, educators, and anyone interested in the spiritual heritage of Central Asia.