Baiterek is a 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 a grandiose building is much more complicated and interesting ...
Baiterek of Astana and Nursultan Nazarbayev
In 1997, it was decided to transfer the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Akmola. The official transfer procedure took place the following year, and Akmola itself changed its name - henceforth, the main city of Kazakhstan should be called Astana, which means “capital” in Kazakh. The initiator of all these perturbations was the first president of the republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
As an experienced politician, Nazarbayev understood that Astana could not be turned into the main city of the republic by its metropolitan status alone. We need infrastructure, we need a new urban mythology, we need sights that will magnetize 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 is a sculptural 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 into the heavenly world. Thus, the Baiterek tree is a kind of axis of the Universe. Similar views, by the way, were among the Vikings, who worshiped the magical ash tree Yggdrasil.
Every year, the magic bird Samruk flies to Baiterek. Somewhere among the branches, she lays a golden egg, which subsequently turns into the sun. And all would be well if the evil dragon Aydehar did not dwell at the foot of Baiterek. From time to time he manages to steal an egg, but Samruk bird always returns it back. The ancient steppes explained this myth by the alternation of day and night, summer and winter, as well as life and death.
The myth of Baiterek is very important for the worldview 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 villages with this name in the country. In addition, the proud name "Baiterek" is one of the main socio-political magazines in Kazakhstan, as well as the Astana football club. “Baiterek” also refers to the project of a space-rocket complex created jointly with Russia.
Therefore, one should not be surprised that the myth of Bayterek formed the basis of the project of the famous Kazakh architect Akmurza Rustembekov. The construction under his leadership lasted five years, in 2003 the new symbol of Astana, Baiterek, received the first visitors.
Political Symbols
The creators of Baiterek Astana managed to combine the ancient mythological plots with the modern political background. For example, the height of the structure, excluding the ball, is 97 meters, and this is no accident - in fact, in 1997, Astana became the capital. By the way, at an altitude of 97 meters you can see a special commemorative sign in the form of a handprint of Nursultan Nazarbayev. Residents of the capital claim that if you make a wish by putting your hand in this print, it will 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 hatred on religious grounds.
Infrastructure
If a person is not very interested in history and all the symbolism of Bayterek doesn’t really touch him, the main attraction of Astana will still find something to please him with. The complex has 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 that Baiterek is crowned with is a bar.
In the near future, there should be even more interesting things, because in the summer of 2017, Baiterek of Astana again began to receive guests after an impressive reconstruction. Given the steady interest of Western tourists in Kazakhstan, there should be no shortage of guests.
And we are the same!
Residents of Barcelona say that the world will perish when the Holy Family Cathedral is completed. Astana residents, on the contrary, claim that nothing will happen to the world and Kazakhstan while Baiterek is standing. The attraction, which in 2017 turned only 20 years old, managed to become a beloved and recognizable symbol of the republic, adorning an unimaginable number of postcards, magnets and notebooks.
It got to the point that the inhabitants of many other settlements also wanted to acquire their Baiterek. Baitereks now stand in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Ekibastuz, as well as in the villages of Aksuat and Novoishimskoye. There is a miniature copy of the monument in the modest city of Karkaralinsk.
This is probably the best proof of the popularity and value of Baiterek. After all, no one will copy the unloved symbol.