On February 12, the Tonsky district of Issyk-Kul region hosted the cultural and tourist winter festival "Ton Childesi", dedicated to Kyrgyz winter traditions, the concept of childe and intangible cultural heritage.

According to Sergey Glukhoverov, director of the travel company in the Kyrgyz Republic, the event combined ethno-music, a theatrical show, national games, salbuurun with golden eagles and a gastronomic program with traditional winter dishes.

The festival was held at the Shatyly Panorama site and was aimed at developing winter and domestic tourism, popularizing national culture and supporting local communities.

One of the central events was the Childe ceremony with bonfire lighting and blessing (ak bata). A theatrical production "Legacy of Cold" was also prepared for the guests, reflecting the Kyrgyz winter, ancestral traditions and the meaning of the concept of childe. The performance was directed by Zhyrgalbek Bozgunchiev.

The ethno-village "Shatyly" with yurts, national treats and handicrafts worked as part of the festival. Visitors were offered hot tea, talkan shorpo and boorsocks, as well as an exhibition and competition of warm clothes made of felt, wool and leather, and photo zones in national costumes.

The cultural program included the winter national games: yak racing, tug of war in the snow, the winter ordo format, target archery and folk games on ice.

A separate block included salbuurun, a presentation of hunting culture with golden eagles and itelgi, and a story about the history and significance of the tradition.

The gastronomic part of the "Taste of Sogum" introduced the guests to traditional national dishes – chuchuk, kuurdak, dried meat (sur et) and local products. There was also a popular vote in the contest "The most delicious winter dish".

The festival ended with an evening of ethno-art with music on komuz and kylkiyak, folk songs, excerpts from the epic "Manas", performances by young talents and the dance "Kara Zhorgo". The final part was the ceremony of "Gratitude to winter", general photographing and symbolic extinguishing of the fire.

The organizers noted that "Ton Childesi" is designed to combine culture, nature and tourism, forming a new bright event in the winter calendar of Kyrgyzstan.