"At Chabysh" is a popular festival that celebrates Kyrgyz culture. It is held several times a year in Kyrgyzstan and in surrounding regions. Still a means of transportation in remote mountain areas, the horse symbolizes Kyrgyz nomadic lifestyle. These photos were taken in Murghab, Tajikistan, an area heavily populated by ethnic Kyrgyz, where traditional "At Chabysh" horse games, horse races, poetry readings, and handicraft exhibits attract crowds of tourists every year. (Photos by Jambulat Chytyrbaev of RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service)
'At Chabysh' Festival Showcases Kyrgyz Nomadic Culture
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The festival is dedicated to the Kyrgyz horse, a potent symbol of Kyrgyz nomadic lifestyle.
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Boys aged 8-12 are also compete in the horse races.
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Locals young and old enjoy the festivities.
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The festival attracts large numbers of tourists every year.
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Yurts, the traditional tent dwellings of Kyrgyz nomads, provide visitors with refreshments.
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Traditional Kyrgyz meals are prepared at the festival.
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Traditional Kyrgyz horse games are the highlight of the festival.
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