Celebration breaking records and authentic flavors abound
Nurlan JAKIBAEV, a craftsman from Aktobe, showcased his leather works at the BaiQymyz festival in Astana, including whips and traditional drink vessels such as torstykes, kamchi, korzhyns, and other elements of Kazakh life. The festival, which significantly contributed to the promotion of Kazakh traditions and local farming development, received substantial support from attendees and Astana residents.
At the heart of the festival lies Kumys, the Kazakh national drink. Made from fermented mare's milk, Kumys is deeply rooted in the nomadic cultures of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. With a history dating back to the Botai people, who were among the first humans to domesticate horses and ferment mare’s milk, Kumys has been a fundamental part of the diet of nomadic peoples for centuries.
Kumys embodies the nomadic heritage of Kazakhstan, representing a direct connection to the country’s equestrian and pastoral past. Festivals like BaiQymyz in Astana focus on preserving and promoting this tradition. Besides being consumed for pleasure, Kumys has been traditionally valued for its supposed therapeutic benefits and is sometimes used in traditional medicine and health treatments in Central Asian resorts.
Jumazhan KALTAYEV, the festival organiser, gathered over 50 Kumys producers from all over the country. Guests could taste various types of Kumys, watch masterclasses, buy souvenirs, see exhibitions, participate in sports competitions, enjoy concerts, and take selfies with national treasures. This year's BaiQymyz festival gathered a record-breaking 30 tons of Kumys.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that "Eр Qanaты" is more than just an exhibition; it's a movement to preserve Kazakh equestrian culture. The festival took place at the "Kazanaat" hippodrome in Astana, where the first exhibition of horses "Eр Qanaты" also took place, featuring elite horse breeds like Hanoverian, Thoroughbred, Russian Trotter, Akhal-Teke, Kazakh breeds such as Kazakh, Muğaljar, Kostanai, Bekaraagai, and champions of the Baige - "Uly Dala Jorіgі" competition.
"Eр Qanaты" will be an annual event, with the next one timed for Republic Day of Kazakhstan. As Nurlan JAKIBAEV noted, the torstyk is the best vessel for storing Kumys and dairy products as it doesn't contain any chemicals and doesn't react with milk, preserving all the drink's beneficial properties. The gastronomic festival attracted over 70,000 guests, and an award ceremony for the best Kumys producers was held, with a total prize fund of 45,000,000 tenge.
Mark LIKHANOV, a farmer from Yakutia, represented Yakutian kubuz at the festival, while farmers from all over the country demonstrated ancient recipes and approaches to animal husbandry. Serik ISEBAKOV, a farmer from the Karaganda region, brought 600 liters of Kumys to the festival. Gulnara Bolatbayeva presented Kumis from the village of Saryjal, Abai region. Farmer Lyazzat Abeldinova from the village of Sabyn, Korghalzhyn district, presented her company that has been producing Kumys for 8 years. The winners of the first place in Kumys production are from the Abai region, the village of Sarly, the farm "Zhanyz".
Gaziz JUMABEKOV, a ceramist from the capital, is reviving the ancient Kazakh instrument - the sazsyrnai. Each sazsyrnai is fired in a kiln at around a thousand degrees, giving it strength and a rich sound. In summary, the Kazakh national drink Kumys is more than just a beverage; it's a cultural emblem that represents the country's nomadic heritage and is actively celebrated and preserved through festivals like BaiQymyz in Astana.
At the BaiQymyz festival, cultural travelers had the opportunity to experience the rich nomadic heritage of Kazakhstan, with Kumys, a traditional drink integral to the culture, taking center stage. food-and-drink enthusiasts could taste various types of Kumys, while lifestyle aficionados marveled at the traditional torstykes, kamchi, korzhyns, and other elements showcased by local artisans, preserving Kazakh traditional life.
The festival's focus on promoting Kazakh equestrian culture and traditional food-and-drink practices extends beyond Astana as festivals like BaiQymyz gather producers from all over the country, encouraging travel to these regions and fostering a deeper understanding of Kazakh life and customs.
