Kazakhstan Flag - Republic of

The current flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was adopted on June 4, 1992, replacing the flag of the former Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. Designed by Shaken Niyazbekov, the flag is a rectangular breadth of blue color with a golden sun in its center surrounded by 32 beams of light. Below the sun, a golden Steppe Eagle is soaring in flight. To the right of the hoist, a vertical strip bearing a national ornament again in gold.

The flag’s design depicts the artistic and cultural traditions of the former Khanate and the Kazakh people. The light blue field represents the various Turkic peoples comprising the makeup of modern Kazakstan including the Kazakhs, Tatars, Mongols, Uyghurs and others. Among this population, blue is of religious significance representing Tengri, the god of the “eternal wide blue sky", and of the water. The light blue color also symbolises cultural and ethnic unity of Kazakhstan people.

The sun symbolises life and energy or wealth and abundance. Its rays are like grain, the national source of prosperity and abundance. Several Kazakh tribes have long displayed an eagle on their tribal flags to represent the power of the state. This continues in the modern Kazakhstan flag where in addition it symbolises the nation’s independence, freedom and flight to future after recent domination by the Soviet system.