Since 2022, within the framework of the “Night of Museums” campaign, the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai” has been organizing the “Botai Pyragy” festival dedicated to International Museum Day (18 May).

The “Botai Pyragy” festival is aimed at popularizing the Botai settlement as a unique archaeological monument of the Eneolithic era, which contributed to the development of the world’s horse-based steppe civilization, as well as craft and worldview traditions. Large-scale festival events of this kind help attract the global scientific community to the historical and cultural heritage sites of Kazakhstan.

Over the past two years, several platforms have been operating in parallel on the territory of the “Botai” settlement. Guests and visitors to the museum who came to this site were able to enjoy theatrical performances such as horse domestication, grinding plant roots, cleaning horse hides, making stone discs, and preparing the traditional national drink – kumis. They also had the opportunity to create replicas of ancient artifacts with their own hands, ride horses, and enjoy the traditional swing “altybakan,” among other activities.

In addition, competitions in javelin throwing and archery were organized for museum guests, with winners receiving diplomas and commemorative gifts. The event concludes with a theatrical performance called “Calling of the Ancestors’ Spirit” and the lighting of the “Botai Fire.” Over the course of two years, more than 2,000 visitors have taken part in the event.