National Asian Heritage Festival - Fiesta Asia 2008

We learned that the Kazakhstan Embassy was participating in Fiesta Asia 2008 in Washington, DC this weekend and decided to go down to DC and check it out. They were selling items native to Kazakhstan, we were able to sample some authentic food, meet some native Kazaks and be entertained by a local musical group from Kaz. Their costumes were quite elaborate and beautiful. I'm looking forward to experiencing the culture first hand and picking up some trinkets to bring home but obviously anxious and nervous of the unknow at the same time. While at the festival we also met a very nice woman who helped start a group called Kazak Aul. An Aul is basically a community or village of people. She herself has an adopted daughter from Kazakhstan. Kazak Aul is a non-profit that was founded by Kazakhs and Americans dedicated to preserve, develop and support Kazakh cultural heritage and promote Kazakh culture in America. They are based in Rhode Island. Every summer they have a week long camp for the adoptive parents and children on Kazak culture. It sounds like a lot of fun. The website for the group is listed in the "Links of Interest" section of this blog. Check it out. Here are some photos from the festival....

This is one of the main stages. The folk group playing is from Kazakhstan.



This is one of the musicians who performed.


Here's a little snippet of the the folk group playing.


This was their booth.




Some of the Embassy staff enjoying the festival. I think the embassador is one of the two gentlemen on the right.


We decided to take a stroll by the Embassy, as well, since we were in the area.