April 30, 2025 A guest lecture was held featuring Dr. Nurzhan Erkenuly Kulumzhanov, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the K. Sagadiyev University of International Business.
Lecture Topic: “Sacred Space in the Nomad Culture.
Dr. Kulumzhanov’s presentation focused on the multifaceted concept of “sacral/sacralis,” emphasizing that it does not align strictly with the notions of “holy” or “sacred” in the traditional religious sense. Rather, it encompasses meanings such as “mysterious,” “secret,” “mystical,” and “irrational.” The notion of space, he argued, is not merely a geographical category but also a complex cultural and philosophical construct. For nomadic societies, space serves as the foundation for life, belief systems, and survival practices.
The lecturer further elaborated on several culturally significant and sacred elements in the nomadic worldview, including: The Blue Sky, regarded as the dwelling place of the Blue God; Mother Earth, revered as the source of life; Fire and hearth, considered the sacred center of family life; Burial mounds, statues, and tombs, believed to be the abodes of ancestral spirits.
Dr. Kulumzhanov concluded that the yurt occupies a central place in the spiritual and cultural consciousness of nomadic peoples. Its interior is structured to reflect both social and spiritual hierarchies. Within this context, he identified several sacred components associated with the yurt, such as: tor, bosaga, tabaldyryk, dastarkhan, shanyrak, guest, and otau.
The event was actively attended by university students and faculty members from the Department and the Institute of Military Studies.
The lecture was organized under the leadership Ardak Abdiraiymova (Head of Department, Professor) and Parassat Beisenova (assistant-teacher).
