National games
Berkutchi (Hunting with an Eagle)
Berkutchi (hunting with an eagle). Hunting with a golden eagle in Kyrgyzstan is one of the most widespread, beloved, and profitable activities.
02.03.2014, 12:38
Berkutchi (hunting with an eagle). Hunting with a golden eagle in Kyrgyzstan is one of the most widespread, beloved, and profitable activities.
Do not drop the handkerchief (to toss the handkerchief) — one of the popular youth games.
Besh tash literally: (five stones). It is usually played by teenage girls. Each player must have 5 small round stones, with which they demonstrate various juggling techniques.
Upai — one of the ancient games of the Kyrgyz people played with alchiks.
Chakan atmay (chakan tash) — a game for schoolchildren of younger and middle ages. It is played by up to 10 people or two teams of 5-6 players each.
Teke chabysh is a game that resembles a kind of "hockey" on the ground.
Achakey-jumakey. It is played by two participants. The goal of the players, by taking turns throwing their alchik, is to score 10 points. The order of throwing is determined by a draw.
Arkan Tartmay (Tug of War). The game involves 2 people, but during holidays, at least 8-10 pairs take turns to participate on the field.
Ak cholmok (white shuttlecock) is a youth night game typically played by both girls and boys on moonlit nights. The unique feature of the game is that it is played on bright moonlit evenings in a flat field or area.
Alty bakan selkinchek. One of the most popular entertainments is swinging (selkinchek). In the past, during the nomadic lifestyle, swings were made from nearby trees in mountain pastures, and in treeless areas, poles (bakans) were used to raise the upper part of the yurt frame during its setup. Usually, 6 such poles were taken. Hence the name alty bakan selkinchek — swings made from 6 poles. A girl and a boy swing together. The rest of the youth, divided into two teams (girls and boys), hold
Toguz Korgool (or Toguz Kumalak) — nine balls — is an ancient Kyrgyz tabletop game that somewhat resembles chess. It is played by two people. The game board, made of wood and oval in shape, has two small depressions in the middle (the cauldron) and 18 smaller holes located along the edges (nine on each side). Each of the 9 holes is numbered (from left to right). In ancient times, each hole had its own name:
Ordo (literally "Khan's camp") is a two-sided team national game that exists only in Kyrgyzstan. Two teams play, each consisting of men aged 18 and older, with a team size ranging from 5 to 10 players.
Kuresh — Kyrgyz waist wrestling — is one of the most popular national sports in Kyrgyzstan. This wrestling is similar to freestyle wrestling. Until recently, there were two variants of wrestling widely practiced among the people — southern and northern. The southern variant, prevalent in the Osh region, does not allow the use of leg hooks, trips, or sweeps. In the northern variant of kuresh, a variety of techniques are used; this makes it closer to freestyle wrestling.
Tyiyn enmey — retrieving a coin from the ground while riding. This type of national game is a variation of equestrian skills.
Dzhamby atmay — shooting while galloping at a target. In the past, the target was a silver ingot — dzhamba, which was hung by a thread on a tree branch or pole. The rider, while galloping on horseback, had to shoot down the dzhamba with an arrow. If successful, he became its owner.
Kyz Kuu May — the chase for a girl — is an equestrian game involving a girl and a young man (dzhigit).
Oodarysh is a horse wrestling competition that requires great physical strength and agility, combined with the skill to control the horse. This is an ancient and popular type of contest among the Kyrgyz.
Ulak-Tartysh (goat wrestling) is a traditional equestrian sport where riders compete for the carcass of a goat (ulak). The competitions in ulak-tartysh are held on an open field, which is a rectangle measuring 500 to 1000 meters in length and 250 to 500 meters in width.
At-chabysh (horse racing) is a very ancient and popular sport among the Kyrgyz people.
The voluntary incorporation of Kyrgyzstan into Russia (1863) played an important role in the historical fate of the Kyrgyz people. The alliance with the Russian people allowed the Kyrgyz to free themselves from the yoke of the Kokand khans, from internal feudal wars, and to avoid enslavement by English imperialism. All further socio-political and economic development of the Kyrgyz occurred under the influence of the economy and culture of Russia.
“May the ancestors be blessed, who left us these fearless men's games” CHINGIZ AITMATOV