Monday was a holiday here in Karaganda, transferred from Sunday, just like we do in Canada. It was actually a double holiday.
First, Sunday was Constitution Day, celebrating the anniversary of the constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adopted on August 30 in 1995. There were big fireworks over the lake in the main city park. We could even hear the crowd's cheering and ooh's and ah's from our apartment, a few kilometres away. Large banners are strung throughout the city, proclaiming Constitution Day and encouraging pride in the constitution.
Secondly, Sunday was also Mine Workers' Day, celebrating the contributions of miners to the development of Kazkahstan's economy. Billboards sprung up overnight with messages thanking miners and depicting them as the foundation on which the country is built. Coal mining and the steel industry are very important in the Karaganda region. There are many coal mines surrounding the city and a very large steel mill in a town called Temirtau, about 40 kilometres away. We visited Temirtau on our trip to Astana. The operation is run by Arcelor Mittal, a well-known Indian steel manufacturer. They own some steel mills in Canada as well. It was interesting to note that Mittal meets the environmental regulations specific to each country. The air in Temirtau was a very pretty shade of yellow.
As a result of these holidays, banks, business offices, and government offices were closed yesterday. Stores were open, however, and the transit system seemed to be running at regular capacity for a Monday.
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