THE FORMATION OF SACRED SITES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

This article examines the cultural and spiritual significance of the shrines of venerated female saints in Central Kazakhstan. While scholarly research on the sacred landscapes of Central Asia has focused on saints, this study highlights the role of women in shaping local religious practices and representations of memory. The article aims to explore the formation and significance of shrines as sacred objects of spiritual places and cultural monuments, drawing on historical and ethnographic data. The findings reveal that the shrine is not only a place of pilgrimage, but also a space that contributes to the development and preservation of values. Local legends about the lives of saints allow us to see what values ​​are important for the country. The results of the study show that the shrines of Bolgan Ana and Zhuban Ana contribute to the search for values ​​(virtue, fortitude, perseverance) and the upbringing of the spiritual identity of the people. Their shrines often serve as spiritual refuges, public gatherings, and spaces of cultural memory, especially for women, in whom we can find examples of piety, endurance, and holiness. By focusing on female saints, this study adds a gender dimension to understanding sacred memory and landscape in Central Asia, demonstrating that women's shrines are a traditional continuity and a unique spiritual resource for contemporary communities.