Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Karakalpak Yurts Added to UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Karakalpakstan have had their yurts added to UNESCO’s Indicative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Orda.kz reports.

The decision was announced on December 10 during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee in New Delhi.

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration, shared the news:

The nomination had existed since 2014, submitted by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan advocated for expansion and initiated the inclusion of the Karakalpak yurt. The application emphasized that for Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, and Karakalpaks, the yurt is not only a home but also a symbol of national identity, and the knowledge of its construction is passed down from generation to generation.

This year, UNESCO is reviewing 68 nominations, from traditional Japanese paper to the Indian festival of Diwali. Currently, the international lists contain 812 cultural elements from 153 countries.

Mirziyoyeva described the recognition of Karakalpak heritage as “a historic day” and thanked artisans and researchers for safeguarding cultural traditions.

Earlier, we reported that the Kazakh betashar ritual was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The decision was made at a committee session in Asunción, Paraguay. Betashar is considered one of the oldest Kazakh traditions, marking a bride’s introduction to her husband’s family and culminating in a blessing.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov