Culture and traditions uzbekistan

Beshik-Tuy

Beshik-Tuyi (wooden cradle) a ritual celebration related to the first putting the baby in the cradle. This is one of the most ancient and widespread traditional ceremony in Uzbekistan. Typically such event is held on 7th, 9th and 11th day of the birth of the baby. In various regions ritual has its own differences and depends on the family’s income: the rich families usually celebrate this event extensively, and families with low income celebrate it modestly. Beshik (cradle) and necessary things for the baby are provided by the relatives of the baby. In dastarkhan (table-cloth) wrapped cakes, sweets and toys. Gifts are prepared for the baby’s parents and grandparents. Richly decorated beshik, dasturkhans and gifts are loaded into the viechle together with the guests to he sounds of carnay, surnay, and tambourine and drive to the baby’s parent house. Traditionally delivered beshik takes on his right shoulder baby’s grandfather, and then passes on the right shoulder of his son, who then delivers it to the baby’s mother. In past, in order that all intentions of the guests were clean and nice faced daubed with white flour. Guests are invited to the richly decorated dastarkhan (table) and while guests help themselves, listen to music and enjoy, in the next room in the presence of older woman is ceremony of swaddling and putting baby in beshik. At the end of ceremony, guests come to the baby to have a look on him, presents him gifts and roll in on beshik parvarda or sugar. At this point ceremony is over and guests go home...

Khanta-kilish

Khanta kilish - is another ancient Uzbek ceremony, blessed by Islam (Sunnat Tuyi). This ceremony is held with boys at 3, 5, 7, 9 years old, in rare cases in 11-12 years. Carrying sunnat is controlled by the public. Since the birth of the boy, parents start preparations for the Sunnat Tuyi, gradually acquiring all necessary things. A few months before ceremony which is also called ‘wedding’ begin immediate preparations for it. Relatives and neighbors help sew quilts, preparing wedding gifts. All this is entrusted to women with many children. Before the wedding, the Quran is recited in the presence of the elders of Mahalla, the imam of the mosque and relatives. Table is set, and then read surah form Qoran, and the elders bless the boy. After that the big ‘wedding’ started. Just before the ‘wedding’ in presence of relatives, neighbors, elders, boy wearing gifts. In the past it was customary to give the colt, on which the boy was seated as a sing that form now on he is a man- warrior. All congratulated the boy and give him money and sweets, than all this is going to women’s quarters. On the same day among the women ceremony ‘tahurar’ is held – laying down blankets and pillows on the chest, usually it performs by women with many children. Lavish food including pilaf ends ceremony. According to the tradition in the evening after pilaf, in courtyard people make the bonfire and start dancing around the bonfire, set various games. The next day festival continues.