Key Takeaways
- Khasavyurt broadcast Quran recitation on New Year’s Eve via mosque speakers
- The practice reflects the region’s deep Islamic cultural traditions
- Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim republic in Russia’s North Caucasus
KHASAVYURT, Dagestan — The city of Khasavyurt in Russia’s Republic of Dagestan observed New Year’s Eve with Quranic recitations broadcast through mosque loudspeakers, a local practice that emphasizes Islamic traditions over secular festivities common elsewhere.
In Dagestan, a North Caucasus republic where over 80% of the population identifies as Muslim.
For many residents, the spiritual celebration holds more importance than traditional New Year’s celebrations.
Local authorities and religious leaders often endorse such broadcasts as a means of preserving cultural and religious identity.