Games are not only fun, but also part of the cultural code of the people. Since ancient times, the Kazakhs have had dozens of national games that carried elements of education, military training, endurance and unity. For a long time, many of them were forgotten, giving way to modern sports and entertainment. However, today in Kazakhstan there is a real renaissance of ethnoculture - along with music, crafts and costumes, the games of the ancestors are returning.
The most spectacular games of the steppe
Kokpar is perhaps the most famous and dynamic game, which has again gained popularity thanks to the World Nomad Games. A team competition on horses with a goat carcass requires strength, agility and team spirit from riders. Today, kokpar is held at national and international tournaments, gathering full stadiums of spectators.
Audaryspak is a single combat on horses, where two riders try to pull each other off the saddle. The game was almost forgotten in the 20th century, but now it is demonstrated again at ethno festivals and sports events.
Tenge ilu (picking up a coin from the ground during a race) is a game that once tested the attentiveness and reaction of a rider. Today it is included in the programs of ethno sports events, and it invariably arouses interest among tourists.
Intellectual traditions
A special place is occupied by togyzkumalak - an intellectual game called "steppe chess". Several decades ago, it was known only in the villages, but thanks to the active promotion of the Togyzkumalak Federation, today it is taught in schools, world championships are held, and electronic versions are available on smartphones.
Training future batyrs
Asyk atu - shooting with special ram bones - asyks. Today, this simple but exciting game is popular again among children. It is included in school programs, and official championships are also held.
Zhamby atu is archery at a target (usually a silver coin or disc). It once tested the accuracy of future warriors, and today it is being revived in traditional shooting sports clubs.
Altybakan is a national swing where young people gathered in the evenings. It is not only a game, but also a cultural phenomenon associated with songs, acquaintances and folk customs. Today, altybakan can often be seen at ethnic festivals.
Kyz kuu (chase after a girl) is a romantic and dynamic game in which a young man tried to catch up with a girl on the run, and if he did not have time, she had the right to whip him with a whip. Now this game is often shown at Nauryz holidays and ethnographic shows.
Arkan tartu (tug of war) is another ancient game that tested the strength and coherence of a team. Today, it is readily included in school and student Spartakiads.
World Nomad Games: a platform for revival
It is worth mentioning separately the World Nomad Games (WNG), which have been held since 2014 and have become an important platform for popularizing forgotten games. Representatives of dozens of countries gather at these large-scale competitions in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to show the power and beauty of ethnosports. In addition to kokpar, tournaments are held here in audaryspak, zhamby atu, Kazakh wrestling, arkan tartu, togyzkumalak and asyk atu. WNG has turned into a real festival of nomadic culture, where ancient traditions come to life before the eyes of thousands of spectators and resonate with the new generation.
Ethnocultural mission of the games
The revival of national games is not only a sport. It is part of a large movement to preserve cultural identity. Games bring back children's interest in traditions, develop agility, strength and intelligence, and strengthen the sense of community.
In addition, they have tourist appeal: ethno-auls and the World Nomad Games have made Kazakh games popular among foreigners. Tourists watch kokpar with admiration, try their hand at asyk atu or togyzkumalak.
If you are a foreigner and are in our country for the first time, be sure to try to play togyzkumalak or asyk atu, and also visit a spectacular kokpar. These games will tell you much more about Kazakh culture than any online sources.