Sacralization of the Kazakhs’ consciousness

Abstract

In the Kazakh people the concept of «sacred» has a wide range of meanings. For our people, everything connected with nature, toponymy, tradition and with oral folk art has a sacred meaning. Due to the natural abundance in the territory of the whole Kazakhstan, each resident, in spite of the geographical location, calls his region «Zheryyk», that is «promised land» giving life. The presence of all the conditions for full-fledged multifaceted human activity became the basis for the formation of the idea of the holiness of the earth. Today, «Nationwide sacred objects of Kazakhstan» are understood to be especially revered monuments of the natural landscape and cultural heritage, secular and religious architecture, mausoleums and places associated with historical and political events that have lasting value in the memory of the people of Kazakhstan. Objects that are important in the historical and cultural heritage and in the socio-political life of Kazakhstan, act as a symbol of national unity and rebirth. This article gives a historical concept of sacralization of consciousness and closely links it with the national identity of the Kazakhs.