Independence Day in Kyrgyzstan is observed every August 31 and commemorates the country's independence from the Soviet Union, declared in 1991. The celebration marks the culmination of a democratic movement that gained momentum in 1990, leading to the renaming of the country to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The holiday is recognized as the national day of the Kyrgyz Republic and is celebrated across the country with various activities including official speeches, solemn ceremonies, military displays, outdoor performances, open-air concerts, sporting competitions, and firework displays. The largest festivities take place in the capital city of Bishkek. The historical context includes Kyrgyzstan's incorporation into the Russian Empire in 1876 and its subsequent designation as an autonomous region within the Soviet Union, evolving into the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic in 1936.