Post Tagged with "Kyrgyzstan"

Kyrgyzstan's resurgence in traditional healing

A crowd patiently waits, snaking around the dark halls of a small office. Some pace nervously while children bounce in laps. One’s first guess of this being an underequipped doctor’s office isn’t so far off. The clients who fill this busy room, who quickly enter and exit a small examination room, waiting for some mysterious physician, are turning to the traditional Kyrgyz practice of healing that was once forgotten during Soviet times. Rapakan Aidarkulova, a 63-year-old woman from Karakol near Lake Issyk Kul is just one healer playing an active part in this countrywide resurgence of traditional knowledge within Kyrgyzstan.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union more Kyrgyz are rediscovering once rigidly controlled and often forbidden traditional practices, turning to ancestral knowledge as a key to the past. These practices include pilgrimages to sacred sites known as Mazaars, soothsaying, treatment from traditional healers, and the reciting of oral histories in the form of the world’s large epic – Manas.

During the Soviet times, traditional practices were heavily restricted and believed to be strong expressions of nationalism that threatened stability within the republics. Under Party control, healers, soothsayers, and other traditional practitioners were forced to hide their abilities, practicing behind closed doors away from prying eyes.

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Twelve reasons to love Kyrgyzstan

I have many foreign friends, and one of them wrote this letter to his friends from all over the world, describing why he loves Kyrgyzstan. I read it and understood that there are so many things that I don’t even notice, simply because it’s my country and many things are too obvious to me. So with his permission I am presenting you the following essay.

Why do I love Kyrgyzstan?

By Frieder Shlecht from Germany.

Photo credit

Many people ask: Why Kyrgyzstan? When I arrived, I had only three answers

• The love for the Russian language
• The love for mountains
• The love for Chingiz Aitmatov’s books

Now I could write thousands of pages about why I love this country and in particular its people. Here is an utterly incomplete document with some colorful aspects. I promise I didn’t exaggerate:

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Komuz – music of nomads

Today something outstanding happened in my life. I found the house of my dreams, or to be more exact, the house from my dreams.

Have you encountered the feeling of astonishment, when you meet remarkably talented people? Have you ever felt how you yourself become purer simply by being close to such people? Have you experienced music which fills the room and the hearts of each person in the room and you could observe enlightenment on the faces of those who sit next to you… ? If at least one answer is “yes” you will understand me.

I have been wondering how will I introduce my country to you:

1. I could bring up basic facts about it: For example, Kyrgyzstan is (?) square meters

2. I could describe it: For example, Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country

But then I thought that the first can be easily found online, even on Wikipedia; as for the second, pictures will tell you more than words.

Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Credit

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Stroll around a Kyrgyz bazaar

Central Asian bazaars are a place to buy all kind of goods from food to clothes, electronics and other household items.

Sons of Hedin invites us to look around Osh bazaar in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan:

“Osh bazaar is the largest of the city’s three markets, and consists of indoor and outdoor sellers. Individuals travel from distant villages selling livestock, local foodstuffs, and fresh vegetables. Fragrant spices and vibrant produce paired with calls of anxious sellers makes Osh Bazaar an unforgettable experience.”

Apricots and other dried fruit

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Praying for peace in Kyrgyzstan

In the current times of turbulence in my country, when you all have chance to watch television news and see all the hostility, I feel like praising it, I feel like speaking up about its beauty and hospitality. About how genuine and beautiful its citizens are.

In other words, I feel like loving this country as I always have for being unique and beautiful, for its flexibility and ability to unite so much diversity and controversy.

And that’s the only way I can feel and the only way I can perceive my country: therefore I am going to talk about positive sides of Kyrgyzstan, and things that surprise and amaze me in my own country. Welcome to Kyrgyzstan, ladies and gentlemen!

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