Ancient traditions come alive at World Nomad Games (VIDEOS) — RT Entertainment

Horsemen, wrestlers, and archers are testing their strength and skill against the spectacular backdrop of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, where the sixth World Nomad Games are in full swing.

Competitors from 90 countries are taking part in 43 disciplines rooted in nomadic traditions, ranging from eagle hunting, horseback wrestling, and archery to tug-of-war and traditional intellectual games.

Horses take center stage in many of the events of the Games, which run through September 6.

In ‘er enish’ (horseback wrestling), two mounted wrestlers try to drag each other from the saddle, while ‘tyiyn enmei’ (coin picking) requires riders to lean almost to the ground at full gallop to pick up an object.

Then there is ‘kok-boru’ (gray wolf), perhaps the games’ most famous spectacle, in which two teams on horseback fight for possession of a goat carcass and attempt to carry it to the opposing side’s goal.

Traditional hunting is represented by ‘salbuurun’, featuring golden eagles, other birds of prey, and hunting dogs. Archery, horse racing, and numerous forms of traditional wrestling are also on the program.

The games are about more than sport. Yurts, national costumes, crafts, music, and food have transformed the venues into a showcase of nomadic culture.

The event grew out of efforts in Kyrgyzstan in the 2000s to preserve traditional games whose rules risked disappearing as older generations died. The initiative was later recognized by UNESCO as a good practice for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

First staged in Kyrgyzstan in 2014, the World Nomad Games have since traveled to Türkiye and Kazakhstan before returning to their birthplace this year. What began as a regional effort to keep old traditions alive has grown into an international celebration of nomadic culture.

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