Aigine Cultural Research Center Sacred Sites of the Southern Kyrgyzstan: Nature, Manas, Islam Edited by Gulnara Aitpaeva Bishkek 2013

part of the baby’s head after the first 
hair cut. Traditionally, kokul chach 
was permanently left on the head of 
a long-desired child or an only son, 
thus marking these kids. Elders are 
reminiscent of warriors with kokul 
chach on their heads, they were not put 
on first rows during battles, and were 
safeguarded as much as possible.
Korum – a shamanistic ritual of healers, 
sorcerers and mullahs. Korum is usually 
performed as a healing ritual.
Kudai tamak, kudai tamagy or 
kudayi – a ritual of communal sacrifice, 
when street dwellers, group of pilgrims 
or any other community make sacrifice 
ritual to Kudai – God, and all the 
participating ones taste the prepared 
food. Village dwellers get together in 
spring before the sowing season and 
conduct sacrifice ritual asking the 
Creator for good weather and rich 
harvest. People may also conduct the 
ritual in the fall as a sign of gratitude 
for the harvest. Usually, a goat, sheep, 
sometimes – a cow and a horse, are 
sacrificed. A family may carry out kudai 
tamagy at a sacred site in honor of a 
new born baby, who came to life after 
parents’ pilgrimage to the sacred site.
Kuima kulak – a folk definition of a 
person who is able to memorize and for 
exact reproduction of everything he/ 
she hears.
Kumgan – a pitcher with a handle and 
spout used for ablution. Traditionally it 
was made from copper, but today it is 
mainly made from plastic.
Kurosh – a traditional type of wrestling.
Kurut – pellets or flat bread made from 
drained and dried curds.
Kybla, Kybyla – a direction of Mecca. 
Muslims should face the direction of 
Mecca while praying, sleeping and 
burying the dead.
Kymboz – a mausoleum.
Kyrgyzchylyk – a complex of historically 
accumulated knowledge, traditions and 
thinking patterns indicative of Kyrgyz 
people.  Kyrgyzchylyk related to sacred 
sites are pilgrimage, healing, spiritual 
mentorship/teaching and epic recitation 
practices.  Kyrgyzchylyk also includes 
sacrificing, preparing ritual food, giving 
blessings, accepting spiritual mission and 
many others.

235
Kyrk chilten – meditation alone or in 
small groups during 40 days accompanied 
by a particular dieting or absolute 
fasting. Kyrk chilten is conducted to heal 
severe and longlasting diseases under 
supervision of healers. The main actors 
of the ritual are 40 kind spirits or entities 
working with the person.
m
Mashak – heads of wheat left on the 
fields after harvesting.
Mazar – a sacred site, where people 
make a pilgrimage. Mazars can be ancient 
buildings, grave hills, graveyards, 
mausoleums, trees, rocks, mountains, 
lakes, springs and other pilgrimage 
objects.
Moldo – a person, who knows the Qur’an 
and carries out Muslim ceremonies.
Muchol – a life cycle consisting of 12 
years. First muchol comes at the age 
of 12 and then it is followed every 12 
years. Muchol years, i.e. ages of 12, 24, 
36, 48 and etc., are considered as special, 
when a person faces certain challenges 
and changes in life. Depending on the 
level of maturity and readiness, changes 
might be either positive or negative. 
Traditionally, muchol was celebrated by 
alastoo ritual, burning or giving away 
one’s old clothes and jumping over the 
fire.
n
Narban – the wooden stretchers, where 
the body of the dead is carried from the 
house to the graveyard.
Navat – sugar candies or sugar 
quintessence acquired as the result of 
boiling sugar.
Niyaz chach – lock of hair, which is left 
on a baby’s head during the first hair 
cut. First hair cut is conducted as a ritual 
at a sacred site by healers or sacred 
site guardians. This ritual is aimed at 
assuring well-being and protection of 
the baby. 
Nooruz – the vernal equinox.
o
Ochokkana – a place for preparing food.
Osmo – a plant-based die for hair and 
eye-brows.
P
Palban – a strongman participating in 
contests.
Pir – a guardian-angel of a person, 
place or an animal.
s
Saamal –steamed mare’s milk.
Samsa – an oven-baked patty. They are 
traditionally made with meat, but also 
made with greens and herbs in lack of 
meat.
Selde – a turban from white fabric.
Shaiyk – a guardian and/or custodian 
of a sacred site.
Shakirt – an apprentice, follower.
Sham – a ritual candles made from 
dry reed stalks, cotton and clarified 
plant oil or animal fat based on the 
ancient method. There is female, male 
and general-type sham. They vary 
depending on the type of production and 
application.

236
Sham jaguu – a ritual of lighting up 
shams. The ritual is carried out with 
different goals and in different places. 
Sham is lit up with an aim to get connected 
with spirits to receive information from 
them in memory of the departed. The 
ritual is often conducted at sacred 
sites as a sign of respect to spirits and 
invisible guardians of a site. The ritual 
can also be performed at home as a way 
of purifying the house from negative 
recollections or recent grief. Sham jaguu 
is one of the main subjects of opposition 
between traditional and radical Islam. 
There is a ban on conducting this ritual 
at certain sacred sites related to Islam.
Sheyit – a person who did not die a 
natural death, but died in a tragic 
way– car crash, accident, in a war, etc. 
Women who died during childbirth were 
considered as sheyit. However, burial 
sites with no history or forgotten ones 
are also considered as sheyit.
Shirk – creating a confrere to Allah; 
worshipping sacred sites especially 
rocks, springs and caves.
Shypaa tabuu – getting healed, 
recovering one’s health and fulfilment of 
dreams and wishes.
Sumolok – food that is prepared in a 
cauldron in an open air on the eve of 
Nooruz. It is especially important to 
prepare sumolok at the night of 20th to 
21st of March. The basis of sumolok is 
always spring water and plant products; 
it is mainly wheat sprouts. Different 
grains and dried fruits can also be 
added to sumolok. These ingredients are 
purchased collectively. It is prepared for 
5-6 hours and then stands another 5-7 
hours.  Sumolok is prepared collectively 
by group of people with pure intentions 
and thoughts. It needs to be mixed 
nonstop while being boiled in the 
cauldron.
Supara – manufactured sheep or 
goatskin used for working with dough.
t
Tamyrchy – a healer determining a 
disease by person’s pulse.
Tandyr – a traditional mud stove used 
for baking bread, patties, poultry and 
animal flesh.
Teskeri bata – a type of curse or 
literally, “backward blessing”.
Tilek kyluu – making a wish. One of 
the main rituals carried out at sacred 
sites. The ritual is conducted in various 
ways – silently or out loud, individually 
or personally, independently or under 
supervision of a spiritual mentor, in free 
form or using certain prayers or spells.
Tolgo achuu or tolgo saluu – a ritual 
of foretelling and/or interpreting 
future events by spiritual practitioners. 
Sometimes, the ritual is carried out using 
lamb shoulder, stones of various color 
and size, books, dreams and etc. This 
particular ritual is rigorously persecuted 
by representatives of “pure” Islam.
Toguz oimo – nine flat breads of 
round shape fried in oil or animal fat. 
These bread are made before making a 
pilgrimage to sacred sites as ritual food 
commemorating spirits and for pilgrims 
themselves. According to some accounts, 
preparing  toguz oimo is a way of 
expressing gratitude to invisible forces.
Tuinok –stomach or intestinal tract 
disease in animals.

237
Tulgunai – a penduline tit, a small bird 
belonging to titmouse family that builds 
its nest on the tree branches growing at 
river banks.
Tuloo – a ritual of individual or collective 
sacrificing, which may be conducted to 
overcome bad luck or misfortune, as well 
as safeguarding happiness and well-
being. Animals or poultry is sacrificed, 
from chicken to a horse. As a rule, tuloo 
is accompanied by the Qur’an recitation 
and is dedicated to a specific case.
u
Uchun or uchundu – a state of being 
sick, when a certain human or animal 
organ is being swollen.
Uilotuu – a traditional way of treating 
inflamed eye through blowing. The 
blowing is done by a healer, most often 
by a bubu and is accompanied by prayer 
chanting.
Ulak tartysh – a traditional game. 
There are two teams of horseback riders 
struggling for a carcass of a dead goat. 
It is necessary to get hold of the carcass 
and take it to a specially designated area.
Ulush otkoruu – food or refreshments 
provided collectively by certain group 
of people. The goal of ulush otkoruu is 
a recreation of friends and relatives, 
celebration of a particular event that is 
important for a group. Often times these 
activities are conducted at sacred sites.
Umai-Ene – the holy foremother 
responsible for birth and protection of 
children and strengthening marriges. 
She takes pregnant women and children 
before 7 years under her protection. 
In a wider context, Umai-Ene, is the 
guardian of the life itself, therefore, 
people pray and ask for her help during 
draughts and bad-harvest year.
y
Yiyk jer – parts of dry land and water; 
buildings and objects that possess 
features of sanctity in consciousness of 
local people.
z
Zikr or zikir – a Muslim ritual singing 
addressed to Allah glorifying his 
greatness and omnipotence. Zikr is also 
used in healing practices.
Ziyaratkana – a house or a shed at 
a sacred site serving as a shelter for 
pilgrims.
Ziyarat kyluu – making a pilgrimage to 
sacred sites.
Zuvala – a rolling pin for dough.

238
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