Otau koteru

The creating of the new hearth. Kazakh people have the conception 'otau koteru', which means the marriage and creation of the new family. Traditionally, parents prepare a house both for their son and daughter. The girl's 'zhasau' (dowry) includes 'otau' (yurta). The new house should bring happiness to the newly-weds, so the parents beautifully decorated yurta and tried to make it cozy. Relatives and friends, mother's relatives (nagashy), and neighbors participated in this activity. Aul citizens take an active part in the interesting and obligatory custom 'otau koteru'. Shanyrak (yurta's dome) is lifted up with the pole (bakan), wrapped in white cloth. To lift up shanyrak is entrusted to a respected man). Respected women are the first to step into otau, they pour melted butter into the hearth, and the doorway and door-posts are also daubed with butter. The first dastarkhan (a table, literally a table-cloth) with the rich foods is laid. Those who enter otau, scatter shashu all around and express their best wishes to the young couple. Relatives and friends give 'korimdik', livestock, and expensive gifts for otau.

The young couple's otau is located to the right side of the father's hearth (yurta or house). The elder people do not set their foot into the newly-weds' home (yurta) without their permission. As for the youth and kids, they are always somewhere around this place. Neighbors and friends keep an eye on the young family and appraise the daughter's-in-law skills and ability to work about the house. Early in the morning she opens " tundik" (the part of koshma covering shanyrak) of not only her yurta " otau", but also " tundik" of her neighbors and her parents-in-law, by which she shows her, admiration and respectfulness towards them.