Kyrgyzstan

The Mongols’ invasion of Central Asia in the fourteenth century devastated the territory of Kyrgyzstan, costing its people their independence and their written language. The son of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan,…

In 1876 Russian troops defeated the Quqon Khanate and occupied northern Kyrgyzstan. Within five years, all Kyrgyzstan had become part of the Russian Empire, and the Kyrgyz slowly began to…

Soviet era Soviet power was initially established in the region in 1919 and the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast was created within the Russian SFSR (the term Kara-Kirghiz was used until the…

Yurta is a small dwelling, decorated with hand-made felt carpets and strips. Having its routes at ancient Turkic tribes yurta took all the best from many centuries’ experience of people. Kyrgyz…

Kyrgyz carpets – "kiyiz" and "shyrdak" are made of warm felt and are always rich decorated with ornament. Shyrdak is made with help of mosaic technique of application, based on…

Kelin aluu (the marriage of the son) Wedding ceremonies of Kyrgyz people are the most interesting. We would like to tell you about Kyrgyz nuptial tradition, which exists today and…

One picturesque Kyrgyz story tells of a herder who had sold his cattle in the Andijan region (now in Uzbekistan) and on his return, exhausted, he settled down for the…

Sookko kiruu (Washing the body) When a man dies, before he is buried, according to the shariat (law of Koran), his body must be washed. At first three closest persons…

Once upon a time, a long time – so long ago that the people have forgotten exactly when it was – under a high mountain there was a city. Above…