THE ROLE AND ETHNOCULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF UZBEK FOLK FESTIVITIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF CALENDAR RITUALS

Abstract

This article provides a historical and ethnographic analysis of folk festivities that developed within the system of calendar rituals of the Uzbek people. It examines the origins, social functions, seasonal characteristics, and role in everyday life of such rituals as Navruz, the Water Festival, the Sand Festival, the Melon Festival, fruit festivals, and the Harvest Festival. Folk festivities are interpreted not merely as entertainment events, but as complex cultural phenomena associated with the ideas of nature, fertility, water, health, communal solidarity, and gratitude. The study demonstrates the close connection of folk festivities with ancient beliefs, pilgrimage practices, agricultural culture, and collective memory. Furthermore, on the basis of festive traditions preserved in the Fergana Valley, Kashkadarya, Khorezm, and other regions, the article substantiates that the seasonal rituals of the Uzbek people possess distinct regional characteristics.