If you enjoyed watching Olympics, World Nomad Games will blow your mind
Close on the heels of the Rio Olympics, it’s time to cheer the Indian contingent at another world sports event. These are the World Nomad Games, being held at Kyrgyzstan from September 3 to 8.
The event is dedicated to the ethnic sports practised in Central Asia. Some of the countries participating here have had long nomadic histories, while others have come for the thrill and colour of the event.
The sporting extravaganza is designed to celebrate the nomadic heritage of central Asian nations. The backdrop for the games is highly picturesque, on the shores of Issyk Kul, a high-altitude lake which is a four-hour drive from Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek.
But some of the sports at this world event are not for the faint-hearted.
Incredible traditional clothing on display at the World Nomad Games! #DiscoverKyrgyzstan #fashion pic.twitter.com/emCXvBPfmU
— Laurel Robbins (@Laurel_Robbins) September 6, 2016
The most popular sport here is Kok Boru, which may be seen as akin to Polo. Except that the players score points not using a ball, but a decapitated goat carcass into a circle at the opposite end of the field.
The sport is known as Buzkashi in Afghanistan. In the Kyrgyz language, it translates into “grey wolf”.
World Nomad Games kick off in Cholpon-Ata, a Kyrgyz resort town. Sportsmen from 50 countries to compete in 23 sports pic.twitter.com/RWCRg4f9Mw
— Xinhua Sports (@XHSports) September 4, 2016
The awesome World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan - https://t.co/Cn5gzrUsmW #wng #Kyrgyzstan #games #sports #Eagles pic.twitter.com/SKmOBlPlZ9
— Jonny Duncan (@backpackingman) August 28, 2016
It is easy for those unfamiliar with the sport to feel disgusted about the grisly game. But for the central Asian warriors riding on horseback on the field, the sport is immensely important. It is fiercely contested, and winning it is a matter of honour.
The goat is traditionally slaughtered right before the game. The head and the hooves are removed. It is then thrown into the field, and players come to blows to take possession of it. After the game is over, whatever is left of the carcass is delivered to a village elder.
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| Some of the sports at this world event are not for the faint-hearted. Photo: World Nomad Games |
For the alert and charged riders, the top priority is taking possession of the carcass, and keep the rival team from getting it.
So the riders go back and forth, swooping down to grab a leg of the carcass and pull it up. Tempers flare as the teams clash, and the goat is tugged back and forth. There is an almighty horse melee, with loud whistles, whoops and shrieks from the audience.
Punches are thrown and whips fly as horsemen fight to take control of the goat. The goal is a small pool in which the carcass must be dunked. The man who manages to do it is the champion of this violent, fierce sport.
The other competitive games at the event are comparatively sober. Eagle-hunting, bone throwing and mas-wrestling have their fair share of audience. In mas-wresting, the competitors may be men or women. The game involves wresting control of a small stick, and may witness epic struggles between heavyweight warriors.
And then there is fun and entertainment. The World Nomad Games this year also featured the Nomad Catwalk. The show-stoppers were big, burly men in huge gowns, and grannies in richly embroidered shawls and really big hats.
There have been two earlier editions of the World Nomad Games. But both were small events, and were held in Cholpon-Ata, a lakeside resort town in Kyrgyzstan.
Second #WorldNomadGames alive with colour and history https://t.co/pGTo8ZTDLB pic.twitter.com/t64qXK2yyX
— TRT World (@trtworld) September 7, 2016
The competitors have varying levels of seriousness. The teams taking part in the fierce, ethnic sports of Central Asia are Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Russia (especially Sakha, Buryatia, Altay, Kalmykia, Bashkortostan republics, etc.) and Afghanistan.
The opening ceremony of the games saw hundreds of whirling nomad women, some of them even performing stunts on horseback. The stunt horsemen added huge drama to the opening ceremony, galloping across the large grounds with their clothes on fire.
Spectacularly magnificent events in «Kyrchyn» gorge continue https://t.co/NRQeksNeo5 #wng #wng2016 #worldnomadgames pic.twitter.com/PCc6o0Xq43
— World Nomad Games (@worldethnogames) September 6, 2016
In addition to the very different sports played here, visitors may walk into a demonstration of the traditional crafts of Central Asia. Or they may swing to twangy strings and drumbeats, join enchanting dances, and watch lively traditional drama.
Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev said the World Nomad Games have huge significance for the vast mountainous region. He said that as the world turned into a global village, people were forgetting their individual histories. Hence, there was threat of extinction of traditional cultures. The nomadic civilisation, he said, was an excellent example of sustainable development, and it was essential to protect it.
На джайлоо «Кырчын» продолжаются захватывающие мероприятия https://t.co/KbXuJSoWvR #wng #wng2016 #worldnomadgames pic.twitter.com/LRQqHbZxBi
— World Nomad Games (@worldethnogames) September 6, 2016
“If Genghis Khan were alive, he’d want to be here,” the announcer boomed into the microphone. Few doubted him.