Dombra Day is observed in Kazakhstan every second Sunday of July, celebrating the national musical instrument, the dombra. This pear-shaped, long-necked plucked string instrument is significant in Kazakh culture and is also found among other Turkic communities in Central Asia. The holiday was officially proclaimed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in June 2018, with the first celebration taking place shortly after. Festivities include concerts, musical contests, and competitions for kuishi (musicians) and akyns (improvising poets), showcasing traditional Kazakh music and poetry. The dombra has a rich history, with archaeological evidence suggesting its prototypes existed over two thousand years ago, and it is often associated with legends, such as one involving a khan and a musician who conveyed tragic news through music.