Large-scale cultural events showcasing the rich historical and cultural heritage and traditions of the Kyrgyz people were held in the picturesque Kyrchyn gorge as part of the VI World Nomad Games.
Representatives of the seven regions of Kyrgyzstan presented the culture, daily life and traditions of their regions to foreign guests. Colourful yurt towns were set up in the gorge, where guests could discover traditional crafts and the work of folk masters and needlewomen, and hear folk songs performed.
Participants in bright national costume, skilled berkutchi eagle hunters, sharp-eyed archers and adept riders created a particular atmosphere. Through national games, crafts, music and equestrian performances, guests came closer to the culture and way of life of the Kyrgyz people.
Foreign guests took an active part in the cultural programme: they tasted national dishes, discovered traditional musical instruments and learned to play them.
The theatrical performance with Kyrgyz riders drew particular interest and admiration. Their virtuoso horsemanship, skill and coordination showed the rich traditions of Kyrgyz equestrian culture — an art that has been an inseparable part of the nomadic heritage for centuries.
The Kyrchyn gorge became one of the main venues where foreign guests could not only see but feel the atmosphere of Kyrgyzstan's traditional culture. Here history and the present came together to show the world the richness of the country's cultural heritage, the hospitality of the Kyrgyz people and the distinctiveness of nomadic civilisation.
The cultural programme of the VI World Nomad Games was a vivid example of how sport, culture and tradition can bring together people of different countries and peoples.