Report Kyrgyz national games Tourism Authors: Razakov Nursultan, si-1 Alimzhanov Zakirov Contents

Hunting with golden eagles(Охота с беркутами)

The ancient tradition dates back to the time of the Mongol invasion of Central Asia, when a good golden eagle and a fast horse had the same value and gave their owner authority.
Although this practice gradually disappeared over time, hunting with birds is still popular in some areas of Kyrgyzstan. It takes place on a specially trained horse. In order for the rider to have the opportunity to hold the golden eagle, a special “baldak” device is attached to the saddle to support the hand. Usually they hunt young deer, foxes, small animals. During the hunt, the golden eagle rushes down and kills them with lightning speed. Sometimes the birds hunt in pairs, as they would in the wild.
Golden eagles rarely fail at catching prey, they quickly kill it, usually by breaking the neck with powerful claws.
The hunting season starts in October and ends in February. So during the tourist season, the display of this art is limited. However, there are complex hunting games with birds of prey and dogs called «Salburun».

Kok-boru(Кок -Бору)

The history of this peculiar game goes back into the mists of time. Herds of animals grazed in the open air in winter and summer. Wolves often attacked livestock. Due to the lack of firearms, livestock breeders could not deal with predators on the spot. Therefore, on horseback, they pursued the wolf until they drove it half to death, beat it with sticks, kamcha, picked it up from the ground, and beat each other.
Later, with a more sedentary lifestyle, kok-boru was transformed into ulak tartysh, a national type of equestrian game in which riders fight for a goat carcass.
The Kyrgyz national game is called «Ulak Tartysh» or «Kok-boru.» «Ulak» means goat, and «Tartysh» means drag or pull. In other words, the game involves dragging a goat carcass or a stuffed bag to the opposing team's goal while defending one's own goal. «Kok-boru» is another name for the game and means «gray wolf,» which is a common predator in the region.

The game has a long history in Central Asia, and its exact origins are unclear. It was played by nomadic tribes as a way to train their horses and warriors for battle. Some historians suggest that Ulak Tartysh may have originated in ancient Persia or Mongolia and spread throughout Central Asia over time. It has been played for centuries and is considered an integral part of Kyrgyz culture.