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Alaman Ulak, an ancient national Kyrgyz game

February 26, 2023
ALA-ULK
ALA-ULK

Alaman Ulak is one of the ancient national Kyrgyz games, there are no uniform rules for the competition. 

 

The prize is received by the player who grabs the carcass of a goat or calf in the middle of the circle and throws it in the intended place. The game is not for the faint of heart. Several hundred horsemen jostle at one point, with the aim of capturing the carcass. The most dexterous one manages to grab the carcass and carry it to the finish line. At the same time, several hundred other players are rushing after him.

In ancient times, the game was held in late autumn, when the harvest was over from the fields and the cattle were returned from pastures. The main prize was various livestock: horses and sheep.

Currently, the main prize can be a large sum of money or a car. In February 2023, a game was held in the Chatkal region in the south of the country, 3,000 people participated in it.

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The jailoo, much like the alpine pastures of the Alps, are fragile paradises that must be respected. On the foothills of the Kyrgyz mountains, they represent a magnificent space of freedom where outdoor activities know no bounds. 

For farmers, it is primarily the place where they graze their livestock. For city dwellers from Bishkek or Kazakhstan, the jailoo are places dedicated to rest, symbolizing a return to nature and a peaceful life in the great outdoors. 

I have repeatedly traveled through the picturesque jailoos between the valleys of Jeti Oguz and Chong Kyzyl Suu, and in this blog, I share the story of my most recent stay.