Shanyrak is a structural element crowning the dome of a yurt in the form of a lattice cross inscribed in the rim. It is designed to hold the side elements of the dome - uyks and to create an opening for sunlight to enter and smoke to exit from the hearth.

For the Kazakhs, shanyrak was a family heirloom, a sign of the continuation of the lineage. It was never allowed to turn over or drop it. Among the Kazakhs, a son who inherited a shanyrak was called "shanyrak iiesi" ("keeper of the shanyrak").

There are many rituals, beliefs, sayings, etc. associated with shanyrak. "Speak while looking at the shanyrak" ("Shanyrakka karap soyle") - this is what they said to those who behaved inappropriately in someone else's yurt, spoke too loudly. If blood gets on the shanyrak, then such a shanyrak is split and burned in a fire. Otherwise, evil spirits will not leave this house.

Shanyrak is depicted on the national flag of Kyrgyzstan, on the coats of arms of Kazakhstan and the Mongolian aimag Bayan-Ulgii, the overwhelming majority of the population of which is Kazakh, as well as on the coat of arms of Kyzyl in 2005.