Turmush correspondent reports on this event.
The celebrations took place in the assembly hall of the district administration.
Participants of the event included employees of social institutions, representatives of various organizations, veterans, and local residents.
As part of the celebration, an exhibition of children's drawings was organized, and local leaders delivered congratulatory speeches.
Liliya Nortseva, a teacher at the Children's Art School, emphasized that her students created works reflecting the diversity of kalpaks.
“Our school has about 50 talented children of different ages. For this celebration, they prepared various models of the ak kalpak and paintings for the exhibition,” she noted.
The chairman of the veterans' council of the district, Kurmankaly Orozov, spoke about how the design of the kalpak changes depending on the age of its wearer:
Color/Type of Kalpak Age and Significance
Blue trim For young people aged 18–25 years.
Brown trim For men aged 20–35 years with life experience.
Black trim For men aged 35–55 years who have already experienced life.
Bakay-ata kalpak For elders and aksakals over 60 years.
Veteran Abylkan Israilov also emphasized the importance of the ak kalpak in history, reminding that in 1977 it won silver at an international competition: “Other nations recognize Kyrgyz people by their kalpak,” he added.
On the anniversary of Shailoobek Kadyrkulov, the chairman of the veterans' council of the city of Kainy, an ak kalpak was presented as a gift.
Participants of the event noted that there are currently 7 main types of kalpak produced by artisans in Balakchy, Bishkek, and Uzgen (Osh region).
The celebration concluded with a vibrant concert program prepared by students of the music school, cultural center staff, and the ensemble "Shayir Apalar".
It is worth noting that in 2011, an initiative group called "Ak Kalpak" was formed, which proposed to celebrate March 5 as the Day of the Ak Kalpak.
This initiative was supported by the population, and since then, on this day, patriots and Kyrgyz citizens have begun to wear ak kalpaks. Support also came from the Jogorku Kenesh, which officially approved March 5 as the Day of the Ak Kalpak on June 29, 2016.
Every year on March 5, this day is celebrated in Kyrgyzstan in honor of the ak kalpak, which was established by a resolution of the Jogorku Kenesh to preserve and respect the significance of this national headwear, support traditions, and awaken pride in Kyrgyz culture. The unofficial celebration began back in 2011.
