A UNESCO evaluation body has recommended considering the inclusion of the Kazakh Salburyn festival, as well as the art of embroidery and traditional felt-making, in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Details of the nominations and the timeline for the decision

Kazakhstan submitted on its own the nomination "Salburyn — the traditional Kazakh festival of hunting with golden eagles and tazy dogs." This annual event, whose roots go back to nomadic traditions, usually takes place from late autumn to winter and lasts one week.

  • The festival features competitions among experienced hunters with birds of prey and owners of tazy dogs.
  • The event is accompanied by performances by singers, flute players and contests of improvising akyns.

The nomination for the "Art of Embroidery" was submitted jointly with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This is a traditional craft in which decorative and symbolic patterns are created on cotton, wool, silk or leather using colored threads.

The final decision on all nominations will be made at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, scheduled for November 30 to December 5 in the Chinese city of Xiamen.

Key facts and milestones

Preparation of the Salburyn nomination involved the Kyran federation, as well as the Zhalaiyr Shora and Kansonar associations.

Context

UNESCO is an organization headquartered in Paris, founded on November 16, 1945.