ALAMAN ULAK
1 January 2024
Alaman Ulak is a traditional Central Asian entertainment that (I won’t say it shocked me - I’m already starting to get used to it) struck me to the core.
Alaman Ulak is a horse game, the goal of which is to carry a calf carcass (80 kg) from point “A” to point “B”.
Big games are held on some national and religious holidays, but most often such festivities are organized by a private individual.
A private individual is usually a rich person who pays for the organization of Alaman and sponsors all the prizes, including several dozen different livestock: rams, stallions. The super prize could be a car or a large sum of money.
Such a toi (celebration) is organized in order to receive bata (blessing) in honor of the one who organizes Alaman.
The occasion could be the birth of children, a wedding, an anniversary or any other occasion.
Everyone, including MPs, judges and businessmen, takes part in this tough game. Among the participants there are also professional players who earn their living in this way during the Alaman season. They move from one game to another as the season lasts from November to March.
The game itself is not a spectacle for the faint of heart. Several hundred horsemen jostle at one point in order to capture the carcass of a calf. The most dexterous (I don’t understand how) manages to snatch the carcass and carry it to the finish line. At the same time, several hundred other players are rushing towards him. How they manage to remain calm and control the horse, I have no idea.
Alaman Ulak is a horse game, the goal of which is to carry a calf carcass (80 kg) from point “A” to point “B”.
Big games are held on some national and religious holidays, but most often such festivities are organized by a private individual.
A private individual is usually a rich person who pays for the organization of Alaman and sponsors all the prizes, including several dozen different livestock: rams, stallions. The super prize could be a car or a large sum of money.
Such a toi (celebration) is organized in order to receive bata (blessing) in honor of the one who organizes Alaman.
The occasion could be the birth of children, a wedding, an anniversary or any other occasion.
Everyone, including MPs, judges and businessmen, takes part in this tough game. Among the participants there are also professional players who earn their living in this way during the Alaman season. They move from one game to another as the season lasts from November to March.
The game itself is not a spectacle for the faint of heart. Several hundred horsemen jostle at one point in order to capture the carcass of a calf. The most dexterous (I don’t understand how) manages to snatch the carcass and carry it to the finish line. At the same time, several hundred other players are rushing towards him. How they manage to remain calm and control the horse, I have no idea.
You can learn even more interesting facts about Kyrgyzstan on my blog or on my YouTube channel.
author:
Larisa Bulina
Larisa Bulina
The traveler,
the founder of SARYKYZ
the founder of SARYKYZ
photo:
Zafer Dincher
Zafer Dincher