According to preliminary calculations, this year the celebration of Nooruz may coincide with Orozo Ait, which — unless adjustments are made based on the lunar calendar — is also expected to fall on March 21.
If the third Saturday of March indeed becomes a day of two major holidays, the country will mark both occasions within the regular weekend schedule.
Under the new provisions of the Labor Code, if a public holiday falls on Saturday, the day off is no longer moved to Monday.
The Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic stated that the exact date of Orozo Ait has not yet been officially confirmed. However, even if it falls on Saturday, no additional day off will be granted.
The Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic has already begun preparations for the celebrations, selecting the city of Naryn as the main venue for Nooruz festivities this year. The detailed program is still being finalized. President Sadyr Japarov is expected to take part in the events.
«If Orozo Ait indeed falls on March 21, the festive Ait prayer will take place in the morning as prescribed. After that, Nooruz celebrations will continue as planned,» the Ministry of Culture’s press service said.
Mars Ibraev, a member of the Ulema Council, emphasized that these are two different holidays by nature and do not contradict one another. Orozo Ait marks the end of 29 or 30 days of fasting, depending on the sighting of the moon. This is strictly a religious matter, and its date cannot be changed due to state holidays or other events.
«As Nooruz is a state-level holiday, it will proceed as scheduled. Muslims will celebrate Orozo Ait in accordance with religious tradition. These holidays do not interfere with each other, and there is no basis for opposing them,» he noted.
For many years, festive Ait prayers in Kyrgyzstan were traditionally held in central squares. In 2020–2021, this practice was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic but later resumed. However, since 2024, a decision has been made that festive Ait prayers are to be held exclusively in mosques.
