Kazakhstanis show off stunning national dress to honour long-standing culture and history
Against the backdrop of the breathtaking Caspian Sea peninsula, 5,000 people came together to break the record for the largest gathering of people wearing traditional Kazakh clothing.
The gathering took place in the city of Aktau in the southwest region of Kazakhstan, Mangystau region under the leadership of the Akimat of Mangystau region (N.I. Kilybai) (Kazakhstan).
The city is known for its stunning waters and cliffs, with the Caspian Sea having been elected as the ‘Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2025’.
Kazakhs are a Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and the event was held to celebrate Nauryz.
Kazakh traditional dress plays a huge part in the nation's history and identity. The organizers wanted to revive this and increase the popularity of the dress among the younger generation.
The traditional dress varies: for women, it includes a koylek, kamzol and saukele, while men wear a chapan and headwear such as the tymaq – each covering their body from head to toe in wonderful patterns, fur and embroidery.
Before the event, members of the public pre-registered on the website, and volunteers called each one individually to confirm their attendance and request a photo of their outfit.
Given its long history, a ‘modern’ version of Kazakh clothing now exists, and participants' attire was also checked at the event to ensure it was traditional dress.
Despite the rain and wind, participants met up at the Caspian Sea in the early morning.
The participants were entertained by music and kept in high spirits.
Each participant had a QR code on their bracelet and was scanned upon entry to count in participants.
What the organizers didn’t expect was for the event to have an international flair! Participants from all over the world came to the record attempt: Iran, China, Russia and Turkmenistan to name a few.
For them, featuring traditional Kazakh clothing plays an important part in preserving the cultural heritage of the Kazakh people.
The intricate designs and patterns reflect the history, lifestyle and artistry of the nomadic people.
Kazakh clothing is held in high pride and important to preserve the cultural heritage and the unique identity of the Kazakh people.
The Akimat administration hopes the record will encourage the public to foster national pride and help to educate others about Kazakhstan’s rich traditions.
Once the numbers were confirmed, the Guinness World Records certificate was presented by Official Adjudicator Richard Stenning.
The record attempt now brings their culture to the international stage, and the record holders want the public to know that traditional Kazakh clothing can be worn proudly daily.
In the future, one of the organizers of the event, namely Assemgul Adambay, wants to host a record attempt on more Kazakh customs such as camel’s milk and traditional dance.
