Kyrgyzstan faith confession. Brief overview of the history of religion on the territory of Kyrgyzstan
They are divided into Catholics and Lutherans. Protestant movements (Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists) include both the Russian-speaking population and the Kyrgyz. There are also small groups of Baha'is, Jews, and Buddhists in the Kyrgyz Republic.
In 2009, the Kyrgyz Republic adopted the law “On Freedom of Religion and Religious Organizations in the Kyrgyz Republic,” which tightened the activities of religious organizations: 200 members are required to register a community, missionary work is significantly limited.
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An excerpt characterizing Religion in Kyrgyzstan
While such conversations took place in the reception room and in the princess's rooms, the carriage with Pierre (who was sent for) and with Anna Mikhailovna (who found it necessary to go with him) drove into the courtyard of Count Bezukhy. When the wheels of the carriage sounded softly on the straw spread under the windows, Anna Mikhailovna, turning to her companion with comforting words, was convinced that he was sleeping in the corner of the carriage, and woke him up. Having woken up, Pierre followed Anna Mikhailovna out of the carriage and then only thought about the meeting with his dying father that awaited him. He noticed that they drove up not to the front entrance, but to the back entrance. While he was getting off the step, two people in bourgeois clothes hurriedly ran away from the entrance into the shadow of the wall. Pausing, Pierre saw several more similar people in the shadows of the house on both sides. But neither Anna Mikhailovna, nor the footman, nor the coachman, who could not help but see these people, paid no attention to them. Therefore, this is so necessary, Pierre decided to himself and followed Anna Mikhailovna. Anna Mikhailovna walked with hasty steps up the dimly lit narrow stone staircase, calling Pierre, who was lagging behind her, who, although he did not understand why he had to go to the count at all, and even less why he had to go up the back stairs, but , judging by the confidence and haste of Anna Mikhailovna, he decided to himself that this was necessary. Halfway up the stairs, they were almost knocked down by some people with buckets, who, clattering with their boots, ran towards them. These people pressed against the wall to let Pierre and Anna Mikhailovna through, and did not show the slightest surprise at the sight of them.Unlike the sedentary peoples of Central Asia, the Kyrgyz were the last to convert to Islam. It should be noted that the level of religiosity of the Kyrgyz people in the north and south of the country varies greatly, which is predetermined by the historical development of the region. A peculiarity of the religiosity of the Kyrgyz in the north is the close intertwining of Islam with pagan pre-Muslim beliefs, the acceptance in Islam only of its external form - rituals, traditions, holidays.
The peculiarities of the religiosity of the Kyrgyz people in the south are determined by the historical development and place of Islam among the ethnic groups inhabiting the Fergana Valley. The ethnic composition of the valley's population was very diverse - more than ten Turkic and Iranian-speaking ethnic groups lived there. Before the creation of modern state entities, all ethnic groups of the region, nomadic and sedentary, recognized themselves as part of a territorially unified Fergana and called themselves “Muslims,” considering Islam as an alternative to nationality.
The geographical location and historical and cultural past contributed to a better perception of European culture by the northern Kyrgyz, and by the southern Kyrgyz - of Eastern and Arab cultures. The activity of Islamic radicals and the sympathy of part of the population for them have their own social and cultural roots, which are complemented by the regional specifics of Islam, determined by the peculiarities of historical and cultural development, ethnocultural affiliation and modern political conflicts.
In the religious space of modern Kyrgyzstan, three different directions of spiritual values can be distinguished. The first direction is local magical forms of religiosity, in particular Tengrism and shamanism, which are especially common in rural areas. Second direction - traditional religions(Islam, Orthodoxy). Third - non-traditional confessions (Christianity in its evangelical form, Eastern cults, etc.).
In the Kyrgyz Republic, freedom of religion, spiritual and religious freedom is constitutionally enshrined.
In Art. Article 8 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic states that “religions and all cults are separated from the state.” In accordance with this constitutional principle, the state does not interfere in the issues of determining by a citizen his attitude towards religion, or in the activities of religious organizations, if it does not contradict the law.
In recent years, religious facilities have begun to be actively built in the republic: mosques, temples, churches, houses of worship, and dozens of religious educational institutions have opened.
In 1995, at a meeting of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the issue “On the religious situation in the Kyrgyz Republic and the tasks of authorities in shaping state policy in the religious sphere” was considered and a resolution was adopted. In March 1996, the State Commission under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for Religious Affairs was formed as a special executive body whose main task is to formulate state policy in the religious sphere, strengthening mutual understanding and tolerance between different religions.
On November 14, 1996, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic signed the Decree “On measures to implement the rights of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic to freedom of conscience and religion.” The Decree approved Temporary Regulations on religious instruction and on the registration of religious organizations, missions of foreign religious organizations and foreign citizens arriving in the Kyrgyz Republic for the purpose of religious activities. Religious activity on the territory of the republic without registration is prohibited.
By Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on January 17, 1997, the Interdepartmental Council for Religious Affairs was established as a consultative and coordinating body designed to develop recommendations for the implementation of state policy in the religious sphere, to coordinate the efforts of government bodies and religious organizations aimed at maintaining stability in society, strengthening spirituality and faith , achieving interreligious tolerance.
In accordance with Presidential Decree No. 319 of November 14, 1996, 1,299 religious sites have been registered to date.
Registration of 250 churches and houses of worship of the Christian direction of the following religious organizations was carried out - the Central Asian and Bishkek Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, Evangelical Christian Baptists, Christians of the Evangelical Faith, Seventh-day Adventist Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Lutheran communities. Also, 20 missions of foreign religious organizations were registered.
If until 1991 there were only 39 mosques, 25 churches and parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, then at the end of 2005 more than 1338 mosques were registered; more than 40 churches and parishes of the Orthodox Church; 200 Christian houses of worship; one nunnery.
Statistical data allows us to talk about the intensive growth of religious organizations, their diversity, powerful construction and financial support in attracting new believers. Although religious organizations do not practice fixed membership, it is possible to indirectly trace the national affiliation of citizens to certain faiths.
A comparative analysis shows that today more than 80% of the republic’s population adheres to Islam. Among Muslims, there are 60% of Kyrgyz, 15% of Uzbeks, and more than 5% of Uyghurs, Dungans, Kazakhs, Tatars, Tajiks, Bashkirs, Turks, Chechens, Dargins and others.
Orthodoxy is adhered to by about 17% of the population, mainly Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians.
With the entry of Kyrgyzstan into the international arena, the opportunity to study at Islamic universities abroad has arisen. According to the State Commission for Religious Affairs under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, 284 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are studying in foreign religious centers. There are 155 students studying at Al-Azhar World University (Cairo), 84 in Turkey, 22 in Pakistan. The rest are studying by private invitation in Syria, Kuwait and Jordan.
Over the past three to four years, more than 885 foreign citizens have been registered who arrived in Kyrgyzstan for the purpose of religious activities. Among them are more than 600 Christian, about 200 Islamic and 70 missionaries representing other religious denominations. A large number of Islamic missionaries come from Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Missionaries of the Christian persuasion and non-traditional movements come mainly from the USA, South Korea, India, Kazakhstan.
There are three Islamic publications in the republic: the newspaper of the spiritual administration of Muslims “Islam Madaniyaty”, “Muslims” of the Jalal-Abad kaziat (region), “Islam Avaza” of the Batken kaziat.
The Church of Jesus Christ publishes the newspapers “About the Church of God” and “Your Way”. The religious center of Jehovah's Witnesses supplies the magazines “Watchtower”, “On Guard”, “Awake” in Russian and Kyrgyz languages. Almost all religious organizations are engaged in the import and distribution of literature.
Television viewers in Kyrgyzstan have the opportunity to watch Christian programs on all channels for more than two hours a week (even from the United States), and the weekly half-hour television program “Zhuma Khutbasy” on the state channel is broadcast irregularly and is often criticized by viewers.
Currently, there are about 30 directions in religious organizations and about two thousand places of worship and structures. The above applies, first of all, to Islamic and Christian faiths. Statistics show a significant increase in the number of religions and religious movements Christian orientation and so-called non-traditional religions.
Kirghiz and their religion. Under the name Kyrgyz we know 2 tribes, one of which is called Kyrgyz-kaisa-kami or, more correctly, Cossack-Kyrgyz-Zami, and the other Kara-Kirghiz or Burutami(and not Buryats, as stated on page 893 “ Encyclopedic Dictionary» F. Pavlenkova, St. Petersburg. 1899); the second tribe is also called wild stone Kyrgyz, since it occupies the mountain ranges of the Tien Shan and the adjacent ranges of the Semirechye and Syrdarya regions. Both Kyrgyz tribes are subject to both Russia and China. There are only up to 850,000 Kara-Kirghiz, and up to 2 million Cossack-Kirghiz. The last tribe occupies the steppes in the Astrakhan province and in the regions: Ural, Turgai, Akmola, Syrdarya, Semirechensk, Semipalatinsk, Samarkand and Trans-Caspian. (Kyrgyz-Cossacks, or Kyrgyz-Kaisaks, are divided into several clans - “ryu” are as follows: Adaevtsy, Tabyntsy and others - G.K.). Both tribes are pure Turks in language, but Muslims of the Sunni confession and Hanefi law, that is, in other words, their affairs of a religious nature and minor ones are decided primarily according to the jurisprudence of Abu Hanifa Numan ben Thabit, who lived from 699 to 767 AD Christ and active in Mesopotamia; cases of a criminal nature are resolved in two ways: either by customary law, if the perpetrator and the injured or killed person are Kyrgyz, or by state law, if one of such persons is from another tribe. Islam has taken deeper roots among the Kirghiz, who live adjacent to or together with the Sarts and Tatars, who have long been preaching and imposing on them. Tatar and Sart mosques serve as places of public prayer in villages and cities (mosques with minarets and prayer houses are also now found in the Kyrgyz steppes. – G. K.). Despite the nominal confession, the Kirghiz, distant from the influence of the Sarts and Tatars, still retain remnants of their former religion, shamanism. The largest remnant should be considered: healers, called bucks and playing the same role as shamans among the East Siberian tribes; further, lighting lamps around the tent fire; then, fortune telling on a burnt shoulder of lamb and, finally, meeting the first thunder by tapping the corners of the wagon with a ladle along the flow of the sun. The Kirghiz hold all this because the words and phrases accompanying this or that action are flavored with the names of Muhammad (Mohammed), Hassan and Hussein and other persons of the Muslim religion. The rituals of naming, circumcision, marriage and burial are all carried out according to Muslim status, but matters relating to ownership, alienation, distribution of property and divorce are carried out according to adat, that is, according to custom. Thus, it turns out that both the Russians and the Chinese allow the Kyrgyz to sue and dress up, unless there is criminality against non-Kyrgyz, and to celebrate their rituals as they please. (In view of this, their cases are sometimes resolved by lynching, which manifests itself in the form of “baranta,” that is, cattle robbery and family revenge; it also happens that, for example, for the murder of one person, an entire clan rebels against another clan and takes revenge until until it causes serious disasters to the enemy - G. K.). Along with this, those conspiracies and prayers, beliefs and legends, which among strict Muslims, like the Turks, are considered “renounced” and contrary to the ancient, purest Islam, also penetrated to the Kirghiz; for example, the Kirghiz believe in the spirits of mountains, waters, steppes, dwellings and fire and save themselves from them by various whispers. Tables with various soul-saving spells and prayers are especially published in Kazan lithographs (see “Activist” for 1903, pages 235–240 and 360–365). Here, in Kazan, the Kirghiz receive most of their religious books and literary books written in Arabic and Tatar; for example, biographies of the Old Testament patriarchs, prophets, judges and kings, starting with and ending with Jesus Christ (Isa and Aisa); biographies of Muhammad, his relatives and companions, etc. The Kirghiz also know the legend of the 7 youths of Ephesus (askha-bul-kahf). According to the influence of the Koran and its commentaries, the Kyrgyz recognize, like other Muslims, among the saints Alexander the Great (Iskander Zulkarnein, Alexander Two-horned), who, according to them, together with the prophet Elijah (Kydyr) went to look for the source of “living water”, then there are waters of immortality. The name “Kydyra” saves a person from danger, Solomon (Suleiman) from evil spirits, the seven youths of Ephesus from enemies, creditors, fire and water (and bread from locusts), Noah (Nuh) from drowning, Jesus Christ from evil people, and Joseph (Yusuf) - from the result of bad dreams. Like the Sarts and Tatars, the Kirghiz resort to the intercession of amulets hidden from prying eyes, which are worn in sashes, in bosoms, in hair (women), under armpits, kept in cracks and corners of homes, etc. The first quality instructive book among the Kyrgyz, of course, is considered to be the Koran (and then the Sharia - the Muslim catechism, which sets out the main duties of Muslims in relation to religion. - G.K.). The Koran is also used for fortune telling, just like the Sarts. Of the other methods of fortune-telling that the Kirghiz have left from former times, they are known, except for fortune-telling on a lamb shoulder, which exists today; Also among the Mongols, Uriankhians and foreigners - the Turks of the Tomsk, Yenisei and Irkutsk provinces - also fortune-telling: by the color of the flame into which lard is thrown, by the stars, by sheep excrement and by pebbles. When resolving religious and minor everyday matters, the Kirghiz use, in addition to the “Great Law” (fiqh akbar) of the aforementioned Abu Hanifa, usually called “Imam Azam,” that is, the great imam, the works: “Gidaya” (leadership) Alia-ben- Abibekr from Fergana, who died in 1197 after the birth of Christ, “Jamiur-rumuz” (collection of allusions) by Muhammad Kakhistani, who died in 1557, and some others written in Arabic, why the side that usually wins is the one that interprets the relevant passage more successfully and clearly . Prayers, ablutions and fasts are observed according to the rules of Islam, and, like other Muslims, benefits are given; for example, the 5 prayers prescribed per day can be read separately and together, when separately is not possible; if water for ablution is not at hand, or if it is expensive, for example in the desert, then sand can be used instead of water; fasting is observed only during the day, and so on. You can also pay off prayers, ablutions and fasts with wheat or other bread: for example, 1 costs 4¼ pounds of wheat, according to the interpretation in the book “Jamiur-rumuz”. In schools they teach heftyek from the Koran, that is, 1/7 of the Koran, Sharia and other books published in Kazan and relating exclusively to religion. In addition to the Muslim schools themselves - madrassas and mekteds - the Kyrgyz have Russians, for example, in the Astrakhan province, the Ural and Turgai regions. (These schools are opened with the permission of the Russian government, and they teach the same subjects as in Russian primary schools - one-class and two-class; mullahs are also admitted to some schools to teach the Muslim faith.
The Tatars and Sarts, penetrating into the most remote and remote corners of the Kyrgyz steppes as very unprofitable for the Kyrgyz, first as petty traders, and then soon as wealthy traders, due to their habit of selling rotten or insignificant things among the Kyrgyz at exorbitant prices, vigilantly monitor the Russification of the Kyrgyz into the Russians schools, try by all means to incite the Kyrgyz hostilely both against Russian schools and against Russians in general, and convincingly persuade the Kyrgyz to enroll in Russian schools only on the condition that a Muslim mullah is admitted to the school; and this latter tries to arrange things at school in such a way that Kyrgyz boys, usually, ostentatiously and mechanically, study the Russian language and other subjects in schools, but devote most of their time and all their attention to the study of Muslim doctrine; Thus, during a lesson in the Russian language or arithmetic, you can often find a Muslim book at the desk of a Kyrgyz student: heftyek, Sharia-imani, etc. - G.K.). Kirghiz living near Russian cities and villages are more willing to send their children to Russian schools than those living inside the steppes or near the Tatars and Sarts. (But in general, the Kyrgyz are great eager to study in Russian schools, even in missionary-parochial schools; why is it extremely unfortunate that little government funds are allocated for the opening of Russian schools among the Kyrgyz. – G.K.). The conversion of the Kyrgyz to Orthodoxy is even slower. (Currently there are several Kyrgyz missions, mainly in the dioceses of Astrakhan, Omsk and Orenburg. All these missions are subordinate to local diocesan committees, and the latter, in turn, are subordinate to the Moscow Orthodox Missionary Society.
The publication of books in foreign languages for missionary institutions is mainly carried out by the translation commission of the Orthodox Missionary Society and the Brotherhood of St. Gurias in Kazan. – G.K.). Nowadays there are gospels, textbooks, primers, dictionaries, the sacred history of both testaments, the lives of some saints, and even a service book. All these publications were published in quantities from 300 to 3000 copies.
The vast majority of believers in Kyrgyzstan are Sunni Muslims. There are also Christians: Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants (Lutherans, Baptists, Adventists)
Economy
Advantages: Autonomous farming. Since 2000, private land ownership. Export of gold (Kumtor mine) and mercury. Hydropower potential: Naryn cascade (Toktogul HPP, capacity 1200 MW, Kurpsai HPP, capacity 800 MW), Tashkumyr HPP, Shamaldysay HPP, Uch-Kurgan HPP, Kambarata HPP-1 and Kambarata HPP-2 under construction Uranium reserves and availability of opportunities on the territory of the republic enrichment (Kara-Balta Mining Combine (KGRK) - property of the Renova company) for use in nuclear power plants. Quite large reserves of antimony, the presence of rare earth metals. Availability of natural sites for tourism development (Issyk-Kul Lake, Dead Lake, Jety-Oguz Gorge, etc.).
Weaknesses: government control. Economic recession at the end of the USSR.
In 2009, total nominal GDP reached about $4.68 billion, or about $1,000 per capita. GDP converted to purchasing power parity (PPP) is $11.66 billion (according to the CIA fact book). 48% of workers are occupied agriculture and livestock farming.
At the end of 2008, Kyrgyzstan's external public debt reached $3.467 billion. During 1990-1996, the economy of Kyrgyzstan shrank by almost half, mainly due to the shutdown of the country's industrial enterprises after the collapse of the USSR, and as a result, a mass exodus of qualified, mostly Russian-speaking, engineers and workers. Industry produces only 15.9% of Kyrgyzstan's GDP. Approximately 40% of industrial production comes from gold mining - one of the few actively developing industries in the republic. In 2003, Kyrgyzstan produced 22.5 tons of gold, taking third place in the CIS after Russia and Uzbekistan. However, since the beginning of the 2000s, the situation has stabilized and economic growth has begun.
In Kyrgyzstan, according to various estimates, more than 70% of state-owned enterprises have been privatized.
Controlling stakes in the holdings of the energy sector of Kyrgyzstan - Electric Stations OJSC and Kyrgyzneftegaz OJSC, as well as the main monopolists in various sectors of the economy (Kyrgyztelecom JSC, Kyrgyz Railways, Manas International Airport, etc.) - are in state ownership .
A fairly significant injection into the republic’s economy is remittances from labor migrants and ethnic Kyrgyz who have received citizenship of other countries. According to various estimates, these injections amount to up to $800 million a year.
At the very beginning of 2010, a protocol was signed with EximBank (China) on financing, within the framework of a credit line to the SCO member countries, the construction of a large substation “Datka” in the south of the republic and the construction of a 500 kV power line “Datka-Kemin”, which will connect the southern (where the main hydroelectric power stations) and northern (main consumption) regions of the country are located and will ensure the energy security of the republic. Negotiations are also underway on financing the reconstruction of the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant.
The life and culture of the Kyrgyz people can surprise many Europeans. They are a proud people whose history goes back centuries. They have special ideas about life and will delight every gourmet with unsurpassed cuisine. The richness of culture and unusual traditions of the once nomadic people are clear evidence of the uniqueness of the Kyrgyz people.
Story
The formation of the people took place in a difficult situation. The most ancient ancestors of the Kyrgyz people are now called the Saks. These were warlike tribes of pastoralists who occupied part of the territory of Central Asia in the 1st millennium BC. They and their successors, the Usuns (Usunis), had to fight the Huns, who at that time were strong warriors with a developed army.
With the arrival of the Mongol troops, the people had to continue the struggle, holding the territories of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Altai. The militancy of the tribes affected the Mongols and the army of Genghis Khan, but the new khanates, one after another, continue to raid the Kyrgyz, which forces them to make contact with Russian Empire. This becomes a turning point in the history of the country. Its northern part joins Russia, and the southern part is conquered. The policies of the Russian tsars lead to mass demonstrations and protests. And in 1916, an uprising breaks out.
The Soviet period turned out to be useful for the country. She was able to industrialize and begin to establish production. With the collapse of the USSR, a series of big problems began, but in recent years the situation has begun to improve due to the restoration of statehood.
Life
Traditions
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The daily life of the Kyrgyz people closely echoes traditions. One of the most important is hospitality. The Kirghiz treat the guest as a blessing. It has long been believed that everyone who entered a settlement should visit at least one house and share a meal with the owners. In rural areas, the custom of hospitality is strictly respected. Among city residents, many do not forget about him either. Therefore, an invitation from a Kyrgyz person to come visit must be answered affirmatively, otherwise it is perceived as bad form.
Women must sit at separate tables; guests come with small gifts and sweets for children. The meal begins with tea. Tradition tells us to eat pastries before the appetizer, then move on to salads and only then to the main food. Flatbreads that replace bread should not be turned over. It is better to eat them carefully, because dropping pieces means inviting trouble.
The Kyrgyz decide all their affairs in the teahouse. This place serves for business negotiations, joint lunches with business partners, relaxation and planning transactions. It is mandatory to drink tea while staying in the teahouse, observing a number of rituals that the locals keep secret and do not tell tourists about their features. Usually, to conclude important deals, people gather at the teahouse on Monday - the most successful day, according to the Kyrgyz.
Wedding
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They prepare for weddings in advance, planning each stage. Usually the sons who are older are the first to marry. The youngest is the last one to start a family. The younger ones must also take care of their parents and stay in their father's house.
Previous traditions ordered the husband to present the ransom to the bride's parents. Horses remained the most in demand. Sometimes cattle or money are used as ransom. If the groom was a certified master, he could present a product made with his own hands.
The groom was supposed to give his bride a wedding dress and jewelry. Before obtaining the consent of her parents, she had to sit down at a common table, dine and agree on everything. Only after obtaining consent was it possible to hold the wedding ceremony.
Wedding suits have still not lost their relevance.
Holidays
Absolutely all holidays in Kyrgyzstan are accompanied by exciting competitions. Descendants of a nomadic lifestyle love to compete in horse racing, archery, and other events with elements of acrobatics. One of the most difficult is tiyn-enmei, which requires great physical strength and dexterity from a person. During the competition, participants must ride a horse as quickly as possible and grab a coin lying in a dug hole.
Food
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The diet of the Kyrgyz is still close to that of their nomadic descendants. When preparing dishes, spices are constantly used, meat is steamed or boiled, horse meat is considered the most popular. Kyrgyz people love flour dishes; soups are made thick, similar to porridge. The most commonly consumed vegetables are radishes and turnips; legumes are often added to food. On the Kyrgyz table, in addition to horse meat, there may be lamb and beef. The most popular dishes are pilaf, manti, soups and various varieties of boiled meat. If you ever decide to visit Kyrgyzstan, be sure to try shorpo - onion soup with herbs and fresh new potatoes. Meat eaters will love kuurma-shorpo - everything is the same, but fried meat and vegetables are added to the dish. The most satisfying broth is beshbarmak. It combines noodles, lamb, herbs and onions.
Kyrgyz food is fatty, so those on a diet are better off not eating too much. Nomads always needed high-calorie food, so they made sausages from lamb or horse meat, and the most satisfying dish, ashlyamfu, is made from jellied meat, omelet and noodles, and the Kyrgyz can eat it with goshan - a small cheburek with minced meat and various sauces. Traditional Kyrgyz cuisine has some features:
- Rice is the main side dish;
- Greens and vegetables must be served with fatty foods, which promotes better digestion;
- Most salads are main courses;
- Cheese is rarely found on the table; it is made only by mountain dwellers;
- As for drinks, the Kyrgyz drink a mixture of bozo, which is prepared from fermented millet;
- Cottage cheese here is served salted, and soups are made based on barley;
- Nan flatbread is highly sought after and is prepared in a variety of ways. There are a hundred or two options in total - it all depends on the area. For example, in one they bake bread in a tandoor, in others they use coals, and sometimes they use butter (this flatbread is called boorsok);
- The most commonly eaten sweets are sherbet, chak-chak, halva and baklava;
- Like other nomads, kumiss is considered an important drink here.
Culture
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The culture of Kyrgyzstan was formed under the influence of Russian, Turkish and Persian peoples. The Kyrgyz consider nature to be the most important thing for them, which is clearly visible in their creativity. Literary works are dedicated to her, music is written, and reflected in ornaments on clothes. The most grandiose is “Manas” - a poem distinguished by an incredibly large number of lines. In the legends of the Kyrgyz people, there was a place for love, war and horses - the most significant animals for nomadic people. The horse can be used for payment, it can be presented as a gift, and it must also be present at the wedding ceremony. The importance of horses is so great that many craftsmen make musical instruments that are needed specifically for playing while traveling on horseback.
In their musical works, bards glorify the nomadic way of life, telling stories about everyday life, joys and bad weather. The variety of musical instruments in the country is great.
- The most popular remains the komuz, a small three-string guitar.
- Kyyak is a wooden instrument similar to a violin. The shape resembles a ladle, and its lower part is covered with camel skin.
- Chor is a wind instrument made of clay. Gives birth to deep and nasal sounds.
Textiles occupy a special place. Carpets and clothes that are sewn in Kyrgyzstan have gained popularity all over the world. The products are made from felt and wool and reflect natural landscapes, plant patterns and mountains. A huge number of elements can be depicted on carpets (shirdaks). The more there are, the more expensive the carpet. Traditionally, embroidery depicts mountain goats, birds, and dogs.
Folklore
“Manas” is considered the main work of folklore. It clearly demonstrates the peculiarities of the life of the people for 3 thousand years. The genre belongs to the heroic epic and includes a lot of heroes and events. “Manas” describes in detail the military battles that took place during the raids of neighboring tribes, the struggle for independence and the reconquest of occupied territories.
The epic presents the heroes as courageous and purposeful. They are all glorious and valiant warriors. “Manas” pays attention to the woman, showing her not only as a keeper of the hearth, but also as a faithful comrade-in-arms who saves soldiers from death when they receive dangerous wounds. A woman often becomes a mentor, giving valuable advice to the hero. “Manas” has been translated into many languages and has 35 versions, characterized by different presentations. The epic is truly huge - it has more than a million lines.
Appearance
Physiognomists classify the faces of the Kyrgyz people as Mongoloid. Facial features correspond to Kazakh ones. The Chinese appearance can also be traced, which is associated with the regular invasion of Chinese troops, who drove people into Manchuria.
Cloth
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The Kirghiz sew clothes from felt, leather and wool. National costumes are worn on holidays, and on Everyday life prefer simple European clothes. However, on the streets you can see many young people wearing caps. Boys over 6 years old are very proud of this headdress. Men used to often wear chapan - a beautifully embroidered coat with a stand-up collar. Another type of coat is the checkpen. It is characterized by specific embroidery and is quite long by the standards of European fashion.
Women wear skirts with slits. Kyrgyz women wear them over a robe (dress). For special occasions, special dresses are selected - with patterns and embroidery on the sleeves. The headdress is a cone-shaped cap decorated with feathers. An alternative to such a cap is an elechek, similar to a turban. It is wrapped around the head many times - the length of the fabric can reach 30 meters. The men's headdress is the skullcap, which may differ depending on the area of residence. Feature of the outfits unmarried girls is the brightness and variety of colors. Married women dress more conservatively.
Housing
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Traditional nomadic dwellings - yurts - are still common throughout the country. The basis of the frame of such housing is made up of lattice-type poles and walls. The finishing is done using mats and felt, the floor is covered with leather, and carpets are used as internal insulation.
Kyrgyz people store things and clothes in small chests. Men and women are kept separate. The yurt is heated by a kolomto - a small hearth, which is also the main source of light. Additionally, a chirak lamp is used. Colors and patterns are always different among tribal groups and families. Status owners try to decorate the yurt as richly as possible. The most honorable place in the yurt is the tor, placed next to the bench and chests, which are covered with carpets. The owner of the yurt or elder is located on the torus. The richest Kyrgyz have a large number of yurts. Some are used as storage rooms, others are for guests, and others are used for weddings. Mud houses, which replaced yurts during the formation of a sedentary lifestyle, are now not so popular. Most often, people live in apartment buildings. The yurt is more of a whim and an indicator of status.
Character
The Kyrgyz people respect family hierarchy. The father is considered the head of the family, and his word is law for the children. Strictness, as in the old days, is no longer characteristic of parents.
Mutual assistance is still elevated to a cult. Relatives, neighbors, acquaintances - everyone is obliged to help each other in difficult times. It is believed that Kyrgyz girls mature at an early age. There are often cases when a young girl, barely 17 years old, is already getting married. Children are considered the highest good; family values are laid down from childhood. Children are taught to work early and are always introduced to the elders, who have not yet lost their authority.
Respect for elders is, in principle, one of the main character traits. The Kyrgyz believe that an elderly person teaches the most important thing - wisdom. Therefore, you need to listen to him and heed his words.
Religion
Kyrgyzstan is recognized as a secular state, but Islam is predominantly widespread. The majority of religious residents are Sunni Muslims. Only a few here practice Buddhism. Among the religious population there are representatives of Judaism, Lutheranism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The country has freedom of religion, which is respected by the state and population.
Over the past few years, interest in religion has been increasing. There has been an increase in the construction of mosques and Orthodox churches. There are approximately 1,340 mosques in the country. Among educational institutions The most common are Christian and Muslim.
Lifespan
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Life expectancy in the country is one of the pressing problems that are constantly discussed among the people and at the state level. As of 2010, life expectancy among men did not exceed 60 years. At the same time, women, according to the Ministry of Health, reached the age of 72 years. Doctors cite frequent consumption of fatty meat as one of the reasons for low life expectancy among the male population. Now the country's Ministry of Health is looking for a solution to the problem.
The government expects that the country's life expectancy should soon increase to 66 years for men and 74 years for women.
Number
Today, over 6 million people live in Kyrgyzstan. The specificity of the country's population is such that the male and female population are distributed approximately equally. In recent years there has been a growing trend. Including due to immigrants. There is also an annual outflow of the indigenous population to other countries. The number of people leaving the country currently exceeds the influx.
In Kyrgyzstan, high social unloading has been recorded: there is a large number of people belonging to the disabled category.
The Kirghiz deserve great respect - in difficult times they had to face the Mongols and Chinese, who outnumbered them and had much more powerful armies. The people of Kyrgyzstan managed not only to survive, but to preserve culture, customs and national identity. Many people are optimistic about the future. Nowadays, the country is increasingly witnessing the growth of the intelligentsia, and the level of literacy and education is growing.