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Abstract

Modern Kyrgyz society, as it has for many centuries, practices a wide range of rituals that play an important role in building relationships among people within their communities. Rituals have a profound significance in people’s everyday life and are guided by specific needs, beliefs, and expectations.

The aim of this research is to explore the social significance of rituals in Kyrgyz society, both historically and in the present day, in order to understand the rationales behind the changes or preservation of specific rituals over time.

The researcher studies episodes from the epic “Manas”, which describes the rituals of turning into foster brothers of Manas and his friend from China Almambet, the matchmaking ritual of Manas Kanykey and some others, as well as the most common ritual in Kyrgyz society,” give a taste of bread. “I will be interviewing two epic storytellers, as well as 8-10 people practicing various Kyrgyz rituals.

This is an ongoing study and the researcher studies episodes from the epic "Manas", which describes the rituals of becoming foster brothers of Manas and his Chinese friend Almambet, the marriage ritual of Manas's Kanykey, and other common rituals in Kyrgyz society such as giving a taste of bread to visitors. The data has been collected through semi-structured interviews Manas tellers and eight to ten people who practice various Kyrgyz rituals.

My argument is twofold: first, some Kyrgyz rituals were dictated by a nomadic way of life, when people did not have a lot of protection and needed trustworthy people in their environment. As a result, most rituals aim to oblige another person to be more friendly, tolerant, and in difficult times to make them an ally, so they do not turn against them. Second, with changing living conditions, opportunities, and relationships, some rituals have become less relevant but continue to exist in people's memories. These rituals are important for preserving a more complete picture of the Kyrgyz culture. The meaning of other rituals has evolved, and people continue to perform them with new meanings.

The study will contribute to a better understanding of the significance of rituals in shaping relationships within the Kyrgyz community. This knowledge will provide a solid foundation for a more informed discussion on certain practices specific to the Kyrgyz people and the historical context of ritual actions influenced by the unique circumstances of Kyrgyz life.