Sights of Turkestan.

“Ancient aphorisms outlived centuries. Modern aphorisms can barеly survive from book to book” 

Ljupka Cvetanova.

Trip to Turkestan.

Inside, in the centre of the great dome hall (kazandyk), stands a huge metal basin known as the Holy Kazakh. It is no ordinary cast bowl; it has a diameter of 2.45 metres and weighs two tonnes, but most interestingly - and significantly - it is made of an alloy consisting of seven metals: iron, zinc, lead, tin, copper, silver and gold.
Water placed in the basin is believed to become imbued with trace metals that are highly beneficial to your health; the basin's capacity of 600 litres was necessary in order to give every worshipper a sip of the slightly sweet water after Friday prayers.
For a long time, this sacred object was displayed in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, but it was finally returned to Kazakhstan and is once again proudly displayed in its historical home. More historic treasures are hidden in the 35 rooms and chambers surrounding the kazandyk.

Authority:
«Monuments of the Central Asia». The author of M. Khahsimov. Publishing house, Saga, 2001. Samarkand. «Masterpieces of the Central Asia», Tashkent, Publishing house Sanat, 2004. www.farsah.kz. «Ancient Kazakhstan» Arias, Saki, Hun, Turkis. The children's encyclopedia of Kazakhstan. Almaty, 2007, publishing house Aruna. Medoev A.G., «Engravings on rocks.Sary-Arka, Mangyshlak», Almaty, Zhalyn, 1979. Marikovskij P.I. «Figures on rocks of Southern and Central areas of Kazakhstan», Almaty, Tuganolke, 2004

Photos
Alexander Petrov.