🌷 Where to Celebrate Navruz, Opera Festival, and a Secret Garden...

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So what exactly is Navruz all about?

If you’re unsure what Navruz is and how it’s celebrated then you’re not alone - after two years I’m still fairly clueless.

That’s why we have guest writer Umida, lover of coffee, the New York Times, and her home town of Tashkent.

Navruz: A Celebration of Spring and Renewal

On March 21st, day and night are almost equal in length—a phenomenon known as the equinox. In Uzbekistan, this marks the celebration of Navruz, which translates from Farsi as "new day."

Dating back to Zoroastrian times (around the 6th or 7th century BC), Navruz symbolized the awakening of nature, the season of plowing fields, sowing seeds, and planting crops.

Back then, the celebration was deeply spiritual—people believed that good angels descended on the last day of winter, bringing happiness and abundance. Families gathered in clean spaces around a festive table, making heartfelt wishes for the year ahead.

The festive spirit is felt well before March 21st, as people take part in hashar—a communal labor tradition where neighbors gather to clean streets, plant trees, and restore public spaces.

For three days, Tashkent transforms into a vibrant hub of celebration. Parks, broadways, and shopping centers welcome hundred  of visitors, while traditional music, dance performances, and lively public festivals fill the city with energy.

The Taste of Navruz: Sumalak

No Navruz is complete without sumalak—a rich, thick dish with a texture similar to melted chocolate.

Unlike chocolate, however, its key ingredient is wheat sprouts, symbolizing spring and renewal.

It is slow-cooked for almost 24 hours in a large kazan (cauldron) with flour, vegetable oil, and water.

What makes sumalak truly special is the way it's prepared—it's a collective effort, usually led by women, who gather around the simmering pot, singing, laughing, and making wishes as they take turns stirring the mixture with a long wooden stick.

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Wisdom of the Crowds: Family-Friendly Restaurants in Tashkent

Each week we use the wisdom of the crowds to create a community-driven guide to the best of Tashkent.

As this is a new feature, I’m extending the timeline for our first list.

Next week: Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Tashkent

Tell us about your favourite family-friendly restaurant in Tashkent. Maybe it has a play area, cooking classes or a special kids menu.

Reply to this email by Sunday 23rd or msg on telegram @ryanett88. Max 50 words. A photo is a bonus!

In the News this Week…

• No details yet confirmed but there are plans to reintroduce tram services to Tashkent.

• Tashkent to introduce paid parking zones with dynamic pricing ranging between 5,000 and 12,000 som per hour.

Restaurant of the Week: Loza Art Cafe

A beautiful secret garden in one of Tashkent’s biggest parks.

Lodged between the rides and rollercoasters of Anhor Park and the traditional gift vendors of Navruz Park is a small secret garden where you surround yourself in greenery as you enjoy traditional Uzbek food.

Surrounded by overhead vines, traditional Uzbek ikat-style textiles and hanging earthenware, you quickly forget where you are.

The food here is mainly Uzbek food such as shashlik and plov which comes served in traditional fancy blue and turquoise ceramics. There’s also a choice of alternatives such as stews, soups and plenty of salad dishes.

The restaurant is best visited in good weather but there is also a small indoor area which can seat around 20 people.

Vegan/Vegetarian Options ✅ Alcohol ❌

English menu ❌ English speaking staff ✅

Loza Art Cafe Insta

In the Spotlight: Navruz Park

Navruz Park makes up the lower part of Anhor Park, one of Tashkent’s largest free amusement parks.

It’s the quieter section of the park and is home to an ‘ethnographic town’, the largest Ferris wheel in Central Asia (72m), and a number of small shops selling Uzbek souvenirs.

As the name might suggest, Navruz Park is one of the main places to celebrate Navruz. Last year we watched dozens of entertainers including singers, dancers, and jugglers.

This year it will also be one of the main hubs of entertainment, promising drummers, trumpets and laughter—as well as 40 types of sumalyak.

You’ll never eat again.

Due to it being Ramadan, I imagine it will be fairly quiet in the morning and gradually get busier later in the day.

If visiting with kids here are 11 things to do at Anhor/Navruz park.

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Plan your Silk Road getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city

Step back in time and explore the legendary city of Samarkand on this guided day trip from Tashkent.

Tour Highlights

✅ High-speed train journey from Tashkent to Samarkand
✅ Explore Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda, and Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
✅ Visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque and shop at Siab Bazaar
✅ Expert English-speaking guide throughout the trip
✅ Pick-up & drop-off from your place in Tashkent

Where to Celebrate Navruz in Tashkent

1. Biggest Navruz Celebrations @Navruz Park, 21st March

March 20:

11:00 — start of cooking 40 types of sumalyak, theatrical performance, tightrope walker performance;
14:00 — performance of children's musical group;
15:00 — competitions with national food bloggers;
18:00 — concert program with Uzbek pop stars with the support of MuzTV Uzbekistan.

March 21:
11:00 — preparation and tasting of 40 types of sumalak, theatrical performance, tightrope walker show;
14:00 — performance of a children's musical group;
15:00 — competitions with national food bloggers;
20:00 — showing of the musical "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves".

Folklore ensembles, fiery dances and a festive iftar-plov are also expected.

2. Sumalyak Party! @Human House Gallery, 21st March, 11:00-22:00. Free entry.

Spring is a time of renewal, joy and warm meetings! We invite you to the Human House for the Sumalyak party, where we will cook traditional Uzbek sumalak together, chat, enjoy the atmosphere and celebrate the arrival of Navruz.

You will find:
✨ Fragrant, viscous sumalak.
🎶 Live music and a cozy atmosphere
🍵 Tea, sweets and treats
💫 Warm communication and good wishes

3. Fuzzy Head Unlimited Wine @Uzumfermer, 21st March.

Spring is a time of renewal, light and joy! We invite you to a grand celebration of Navruz at the Uzumfermer winery!

Let's celebrate the New Year together according to the natural calendar with bright emotions, delicious treats and unlimited wine! 🍷

💰 Entrance fee: Adults - 600 000 sum; Children – 300,000 sum

Telegram:@officeuzumfermer to book.

4. Celebrate Navruz Traditions @Methodica Uzbek Language School, 20th March, 5:30PM.

🎶 A vibrant concert program by the “Vocalist” music school

🍲 Cooking and enjoying Uzbek plov

👗 Dress code: traditional Uzbek chapans (optional)

✨ Contests: • Best chapan • Uzbek song performance • Traditional instruments • Uzbek dance • Traditional Uzbek game

🎟 Entrance fee: • 50,000 UZS for adults • Free for children under 12

‼️Entry is strictly by registration! Telegram @methodicaadmin

5. The Magic of Folk Culture Exhibition @Tashkent House of Photographers, Daily until 24th March, 5:30PM.

We invite you to a personal photo exhibition of photographer Vladimir Goncharenko, a member of the Union of Artists of Uzbekistan, entitled “The Magic of Folk Culture."

The grand opening of this exhibition, dedicated to the Navruz holiday.

6. Festive Weekend @Tashkent City Park, March 21-23rd, Daily from 4pm. Free

Cooking sumalyak, folklore performances, thematic theatre productions and dozens more activities.

7. Navruz Program @Ashgabat Park, March 21st, 10:00-20:30. Free

• Animators, National treats; National games and dances.
• Evening concert program at 19:30: Sevinch Ismoilova.