Baiterek is the symbol of Astana. To Western guests of Kazakhstan, it resembles a huge "Chupa-Chups", majestically towering over the new buildings of the capital. However, in reality, the symbolism of the grandiose structure is much more complicated and interesting…
Baiterek of Astana and Nursultan Nazarbayev
In 1997, it was decided to move the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Akmola. The official transfer procedure took place the following year, and Akmola itself changed its name - from now on, the main city of Kazakhstan should be called Astana, which means "capital" in Kazakh. The initiator of all these upheavals was the first president of the republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
As an experienced politician, Nazarbayev understood that capital status alone would not turn Astana into the main city of the republic. We need infrastructure, we need a new urban mythology, we need attractions that will attract tourists to the capital.
Then the idea of erecting the Baiterek monument in Astana arose.
What does the monument symbolize?
Why does Baiterek in Astana (Kazakhstan) look like this?
It turns out that Baiterek issculptural embodiment of the worldview of the ancient Kazakhs. They imagined the Universe in this way: somewhere between the worlds a river flows, on the banks of which a wonderful tree of life called Baiterek grows. The roots of this tree keep the underworld in balance, the trunk is located in the world of people and animals, and the crown goes to the heavenly world. Thus, the Baiterek tree is a kind of axis of the Universe. By the way, the Vikings, who worshiped the magical ash tree Yggdrasil, had similar worldviews.
Every year the magical bird Samruk flies to Baiterek. Somewhere among the branches, she lays a golden egg, which later turns into the sun. And everything would be fine if the evil dragon Aidekhar did not live at the foot of Baiterek. From time to time he manages to steal the egg, but the Samruk bird always brings it back. With this myth, the ancient steppe people explained the alternation of day and night, summer and winter, as well as life and death.
The myth of Baiterek is very important for the outlook of the Kazakhs. We can say that it is the basis of a new national idea. It is no coincidence that there are about a dozen auls with this name in the country. In addition, the proud name "Baiterek" is one of the main social and political magazines in Kazakhstan, as well as the Astana football club. "Baiterek" is also the name of the rocket and space complex project created jointly with Russia.
Therefore, one should not be surprised that the myth of Baiterek formed the basis of the project of the famous Kazakh architect Akmurza Rustembekov. Construction under his leadership continuedfive years, in 2003 the new symbol of Astana, Baiterek, received its first visitors.
Political symbols
The creators of Baiterek Astana managed to combine ancient mythological plots with modern political background. For example, the height of the building, excluding the ball, is 97 meters, and this is not accidental - it was in 1997 that Astana became the capital. By the way, at a height of 97 meters you can see a special memorial sign in the form of Nursultan Nazarbayev's handprint. Residents of the capital claim that if you make a wish by putting your hand into this print, then it will surely come true, and very quickly. By the way, the height of the entire structure is 105 meters.
There is another symbolic attraction in Baiterek - a globe divided into 17 parts, each of which is signed by a representative of some religion. So the creators of the monument once again urge humanity to live in peace and harmony, to avoid discord on religious grounds.
Infrastructure
If a person is not very interested in history and all the symbolism of Baiterek does not really touch him, the main attraction of Astana will still find something to please him. On the territory of the complex there are a large number of first-class cafes and restaurants, on the last tier there is an observation deck, there is a wonderful oceanarium. Right inside the ball with which Baiterek is crowned, there is a bar.
In the near future, there should be even more interesting things, because in the summer of 2017 Baiterek Astana again began to receive guests after an impressivereconstruction. Given the steady interest of Western tourists in Kazakhstan, there should be no shortage of guests.
And the same for us
Barcelona residents say that the world will perish when the Sagrada Familia is completed. Astana residents, on the contrary, assure that nothing will happen to the world and Kazakhstan while Baiterek stands. The attraction, which turned only 20 years old in 2017, has become a beloved and recognizable symbol of the republic, decorating an unimaginable number of postcards, magnets and notebooks.
It got to the point that residents of many other settlements also wanted to acquire their own Baiterek. Their Baitereks now stand in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Ekibastuz, as well as in the villages of Aksuat and Novoishimskoye. There is also a miniature copy of the monument in the modest town of Karkaralinsk.
Perhaps this is the best proof of Baiterek's popularity and importance. After all, no one will copy an unloved character.
