Kyrgyz culture has been greatly influenced by their nomadic heritage. Kömöch breads are baked in a kind of cooker known by that very name. Yurts are easy to take apart and carry, and can be made warmer for winter, and cooler for summer. From the outside, the kerege are covered with mats made of cheegrass stalk. Many songs have lyrics about the nomadic lifestyle, but even without words, the music reflects the sounds and feelings of not only the landscape, but of the experiences essential to living there. Poor people lived in small, smoky yurtas (boz ui, kara ui), where they kept not only their utilities (bed, pottery), but during the coldest time of the year - newborn calves and lambs. Sign up for my culinary, travel and cultural adventure delivered right to your inbox so you won't miss a thing. Of course, this does not mean that the people of Kyrgyzstan do not have unique skills and talents, quite the contrary. Identity is not about who they are as individuals, but how they as individuals contribute to the community and the role they play. Before 1924 the only railways in Kyrgyzstan were two narrow-gauge lines leading from the border areas to the coal deposits of Kok-Yangak and Sülüktü. Her primary interest is in the culinary culture of Central Asia, specifically among the Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, and Dungans (Chinese Muslims). Most Kyrgyz speak a language belonging to the northwestern group of the Turkic languages, especially Kyrgyz. Agriculture is an important sector of the economy, including the raising of livestock. Read more... Kyrgyzstan's literature extends across centuries, though it wasn't always written down. The Kyrgyz eat grains, specifically wheat, corn, oats, barley, and millet. Kyrgyz music is most famous for how evocative it is of nature and life in the mountains. Mutton (lamb) is the favorite meat, although many Kyrgyz are unable to afford it regularly. Despite this, electricity is either unpredictable or rationed in the winter. From their housing to their clothing, everything was designed to adapt to changing weather and locations. According to tradition, the bride's mother and sister-in-law sing koshok (a lament over her departure) and say good-bye to each other. When it is over and everyone is ready to leave, everyone holds their hands together in front of them, palms facing upward. Yurts hold much of Kyrgyz culture, from important rituals and ceremonies, to craftsmanship and traditional artistry. Southern Kyrgyzstan tends to be rural and Islamic, but the more-urbanized Western-oriented north has traditionally dominated the country. Shorpo, a soup dish, along with plov (rice with meat carrots, garlic and onions), are also very popular mainstays. Should you attend a Kyrgyz feast, be aware that it can last anywhere from three to seven hours. Since independence in 1991, many Russians and Germans have emigrated. Visitors can expect to be immersed in these nomadic and traditional elements, especially if they stay with a host family. Grains are also used in various soups and porridges. The cooking techniques and major ingredients have been strongly influenced by the nation's nomadic way of life. A mattress is spread out inside. All rights reserved. In fact, 80 percent of the country is mountainous and is often referred to as, “The Switzerland of central Asia.” It is replete with snowy peaks and pristine lakes. From traditional meals like Beshbarmak that are centuries old to the delish dessert of Baursak, these traditional meals have been around for ages. In Bishkek, there are also monuments to those who died in the Second World War (at Victory Square), and a Memorial to Those Who Died for Freedom (commemorating those killed in the 2010 revolution). It is very similar to the Tibetan food tsampa. Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful, mountainous, landlocked country, located in central Asia. This is in the Xinjiang Province in the western part of China. A game played called Ulak Tartysh or kok boru, is common. The cuisine of Kyrgyzstan is similar in many respects to that of its neighbors. The people of Kyrgyzstan have traditionally raised livestock and engaged in farming. The shepherds would chase after the wolf. Starting in the 20th century, writers, poets, and linguists flourished, producing excellent works that became famous around the world. : (+998 71) 200-96-00 Much of Kyrgyzstan’s rich, 2000 year history has been preserved, mainly because of its high mountainous terrain. Between 1926 and 1989 the urban portion of the Kyrgyz population grew from almost nothing to more than one-fifth, though the Kyrgyz remained a minority in most cities and towns. People are proud of the culture in Kyrgyzstan, and events are held to make sure that it is kept alive and promoted. In China, they write their language using a modified Arabic script. Intellectual games build a player’s capacity to think strategically. Does this skill follow our community’s rules?”. At one end, where they are bent, they are fixed to the upper part of the wall base, at the other end they are set into the holes in the tunduk - a wooden circle at the top of the yurta. In addition to falcons, golden eagles are also trained for the sport. Their reaction was nearly unanimously “conformity” over “individuality” – some even saying the word “individuality” with a tone of disgust. During this period fewer than one-fourth of the inhabitants of the capital, Frunze (now Bishkek), were Kyrgyz; Slavs made up more than half of the city’s population. As nomads, the Kyrgyz people always lived closely with nature. Ornamentation has its origin in the Bronze age, but gradually has been was improved and expanded. Kyrgyz cuisine is the cuisine of the Kyrgyz, who comprise a majority of the population of Kyrgyzstan. The masterpiece of folk creation is the Kyrgyz yurta (yourt, yurt, tent), which was easy to assemble and transport from place to place.