Culture and Traditions

National Karakalpak holidays are listed below: NAURYZ – celebration of a new year and spring – March 21; Kurban-Khait – 2 months after uraza (fasting), Uraza-Khait, celebration of breaking of the fast. Besik-Toi or Sashyu-Toi is the celebration of a birth of a child.

The most picturesque holiday is Uileniu-Toi (wedding). The most interesting part of the wedding is Bet-Ashar, the showing of bride's face. According to tradition, bride's sisters-in-law, accompanied by a specially invited singer, hold the shawl covered bride from both sides and make her bow to her new relatives. One of the most ancient traditions dating back to time immemorial is kidnapping a girl for the purpose of marrying her. This custom is prosecuted by law, though.

In the fall, horse races, equestrian games, cock fights, and national wrestling competitions are organized to celebrate cotton harvesting.

Karakalpak epos was created during the matriarchate. Alpamys, Koblan, Sharyar are among the most famous epic poems. You can see that the character of Gulaim, the heroine of The Forty Girls epic, who was the leader of 40 Amazon warriors, is based on the legendary Tomiris, the queen of Saks and Massagets that inhabited Asia in the ancient time. Tomiris was famous for defeating Cyrus the Great who attacked her lands.

Culture of any people is a unique phenomenon. In the past, Karakalpaks, the Turkic speaking people, that represent the main population of Karakalpakistan, led a semi-nomadic life. Their history has more secrets and mysteries, than answers and discoveries. This is very appealing for those interested in Eastern exotics. The unique ancient culture of Karakalpakstan needs support and world-wide publicity. For these purposes, Ayimkhan Shamuratova Foundation was created in the Republic in 1994. Ayimkhan Shamuratova was awarded with the prestigious title of "People's Actress of the USSR". Children of the actress used their own funds to open the Museum of the Shamuratovs in 1998, which became very popular over a short period of time. Various educational hobby groups held at the museum are attended by children and adults.

One of the examples used by ethnographers to demonstrate the way of life of nomadic people is a yurt, a tent used by ancient Karakalpaks as a dwelling. It is a round folding house with frame made from wooded wedges covered by a felt blanket (in winter) and surrounded by walls made of reed. It's interior and exterior are decorated with multi-coloured hand-made carpet belts. If you wish to feel the spirit of those ancient times, you can always visit Jipek Joli café. The café is part of the museum exhibit and is located in the center of the model Karakalpak Village.