Aga Khan School, Osh celebrates Day of People’s Friendship and Nowruz
To honour its diverse community, the Aga Khan School (AKS), Osh celebrated its annual Day of People’s Friendship and Nowruz on 20 March.
Dressed in traditional outfits, students and staff waved multicoloured flags throughout the day and presented specially prepared dishes embodying AKS, Osh’s multicultural community. With the support of their teachers, students also showcased insightful and eye-catching presentations on the essence of customs and cultures conducted in different countries. They also learnt beautiful traditional dances, which they performed enthusiastically at the event.
“While working on the poster about the country we represented, I learnt a lot of information comprising of traditions, food, costumes, habits and more,” said Talantbekova Zharkinay, a Grade 5 student.
Emphasising the importance of the festival, Zhipara Mamajanovna, the deputy director of AKS, Osh, underlined that the main objective of the event is to demonstrate the importance of pluralism.
“To teach a careful and respectful attitude towards the traditions and customs of other nationalities, and to live in peace and harmony with them, is the most important thing to instil in children,” she expressed.
In addition to celebrating the Day of People’s Friendship, the school community also commemorated Nowruz, or Persian New Year. The festival marks the beginning of a new year and the first day of spring for various ethnicities around the world.
“To prepare for the festival, the students learnt significant information about the country they were representing, like their geography, national dances, national clothes, cuisine and some Nowruz-related traditions, such as the importance of family gatherings and sharing the joy of the new year together with loved ones,” said the parent of Grade 9 student Zhakipova Zhibek. “Talented students of AKS, Osh performed and demonstrated their knowledge brilliantly, fostering an incredible sense of unity which proves the event title.”
The Day of People’s Friendship and Nowruz are just a few of the many initiatives the Aga Khan School, Osh has put in place to appreciate its community, and it looks forward to celebrating more festivals such as these in the future.
Photos (top to bottom):
- Students dressed in traditional outfits sitting in the audience.
- Students presenting their research into customs and cultures.
- Students performing a traditional dance.
- A group of students posing by their presentations in their traditional outfits.
