As part of the implementation of the set tasks of the program article of the head of state "Rukhani zhangyru", on May 15, 2017, a new institution was created in the Republican State Enterprise "National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan" under the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan - the Research Center "Sacral Kazakhstan" under the leadership of the candidate of political sciences B Abdygaliuly. The Center has organized the work of the Scientific and Expert Council (NES) of 40 specialists involved in identifying and updating national and local sacred places. Prominent scientists, local historians and public figures of Kazakhstan take part in the work of the Council.
The main goals and objectives of work on the systematization and development of a map of sacred objects were considered on May 26, 2017 at the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the I Republican Forum on the implementation of the project "Kazakstannyn Kasieta Ruhani Kundylyktara" with the participation of representatives of all regions, experts, scientists (K. Baypakov, S. Azhigali, M. Abuseitova, A. Garkavets and others) and other interested parties.
Methodological recommendations for compiling a list and selection of sacred objects were developed and sent to the regions, working groups of 10-15 people operate in each region to identify sacred objects, headed by deputy akims of the region or the head of regional cultural departments.
Employees of the Center, together with the NGO "Association of Kazakhstani ethnographers" Tugan zher "in the autumn of 2017, carried out ethnocultural expeditions to sacred sites in all regions of the country. On expeditions, for explanatory meetings with local scientists and local historians, they organized and conducted round tables with the participation of local media, went to sites for photo and video recording, as well as collecting information, legends and stories from local residents. Thanks to the conducted ethnocultural expeditions, new regional sacred objects were identified. Each group consisted of 5-7 people, headed by outstanding professors, doctors of science.
North Kazakhstan (Nur-Sultan city - North Kazakhstan region - Petropavl city - Kostanay region - Kostanay city.);
South Kazakhstan (Nur-Sultan city - South Kazakhstan region - Shymkent city - Kyzylorda region - Kyzylorda city);
Karaganda region (Nur-Sultan city - Akmola region - Karaganda region - Karaganda city);
Eastern Kazakhstan (Nur-Sultan city - Pavlodar region - Pavlodar city - East Kazakhstan region Semey city - Ust-Kamenogorsk city);
Western Kazakhstan (Nur-Sultan city - Aktobe region - Aktobe city - West Kazakhstan region - Oral city - Atyrau region - Atyrau city - Mangystau region - Aktau city);
Alma-Ata's region (Nur-Sultan city - Almaty region - Almaty city - Zhambul region - Taraz city).
Based on the materials of the expeditions, the employees of the center "Kasietti Kazakstan", together with local historians, archaeologists and ethnologists, prepared and submitted reports to the public association "Association of Kazakhstani ethnographers" Tugan zher ", on the basis of which the Foliant Publishing House published the following works:
1) Sacred objects of Kazakhstan of national importance (in Kazakh, Russian and English languages) - circulation of 1000 copies
2) Regional sacred objects of Kazakhstan (in Kazakh, Russian languages) - 1000 copies.
The books contain illustrative material of sacred objects, historical data, as well as legends and traditions. These works can be used in various spheres of life: as a methodological aid in educational institutions, as a reference material intended for tourists, etc.
Scientists, members of the scientific and expert council prepared and released in 2017 I volume, 2018 II volume, 2019 III volume of the encyclopedia "Sacral Kazakhstan" in circulation of 2000 copies in Kazakh and Russian languages, including sacred objects in the first volume of Astana and Akmola region , Almaty city, Almaty region, in the second volume of West Kazakhstan, Mangistau, Atyrau and Aktobe regions, in the third volume of Karaganda, Zhambul, Kostanay and Kyzylorda regions. At the moment, work is underway to prepare and publish the fourth volume of this encyclopedia, dedicated to the Karaganda, Zhambul, Kostanay and Kyzylorda regions.
В данном труде собраны материалы сакральных объектов, которые рассказывают о прошлом, способствовавшие объединению народа Казахстана и его гражданской идентичности. В энциклопедии представлен иллюстративный материал самих объектов и раскладные карты их местонахождения. В данный момент, ведутся работы по подготовке и выпуску третьего тома данной энциклопедии, посвященная Карагандинской, Жамбулской, Костанайской и Кызылординским областям.
A multifunctional virtual map "Sacred geography of Kazakhstan of national importance" has been created, which provides brief and complete information about historical objects, in particular, it characterizes the sacredness of the object. There is a photo gallery, a video gallery, moving icons are used. In addition, you can go on a video tour via your own smartphone, tablet or computer. To ensure the dynamics of perception and for the convenience of users, information is provided about which travel agency serves this object, the time when the excursion begins, what the route will be. The map is publicly available on the Internet resource www.qazmap.kz in (Kazakh, Russian, and English languages).
An interactive map "Sacred geography of Kazakhstan of local significance" has been created, which displays the regional sacred objects of Kazakhstan, with a detailed description and a photo gallery, as well as geographical coordinates, which, through geolocation, will allow you to choose the safest and shortest path to the selected sacred objects (in Kazakh and Russian languages).
60 videos of a mobile format for social networks about sacred objects of Kazakhstan, 40 seconds long, in Kazakh, English and Russian languages have been developed. These videos are the visiting cards of the regions where the sacred objects are located for the recognition of Kazakhstan in the world cultural context as a country with a rich spiritual history and long-standing traditions, and also contribute to the development of inbound and domestic tourism. These videos were widely covered on social networks (Facebook, Vkontakte, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegramm) and YouTube video hosting. In the first week, the videos received over 300,000 views. Today, in social networks on the official pages of the center "Kasietta Kazakhstan" there are more than 20,000 subscribers. Also, these videos were uploaded to the ruh.kz website. Thus, these videos help to advertise historical and cultural objects in order to turn sacred objects into places of increased tourist interest.
Three international forums of local historians were organized and held - a working group for the implementation of the project "Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan" in the cities of Astana and Atyrau. In 2019, the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan" was held at the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
All of the above projects are aimed at updating the traditional systems of knowledge about sacred practices and sacred places in Kazakhstan, at the applicability of the potential of spiritual history in the processes of new modernization, the development of inbound and domestic tourism, the creation of basic educational foundations for the formation of the national identity of citizens of Kazakhstan starting from early school age.
