Art and Traditions of Kumyks
On 12th February as part of the “Traditions Connecting Centuries” project dedicated to the International Decade of Indigenous Languages at the Aidamirov National Library of the Chechen Republic a literary and musical hour “The Blooming Culture of Kumyks” took place.
The participants heard about the traditions and customs of Kumyks. At the event poems and songs were performed in the Kumyk language, which reflect the moral character of the Kumyk – reasonable, with a strict concept of honor and loyalty to one’s word, responsive to the grief of others, loving their land. The audience had the opportunity to see a miniature of “Beshikbelev” (putting a child into a cradle) – one of the traditional Kumyk holidays.
Also an illustrated book exhibition was organized for the event that presented literature depicting the culture and traditions of the Kumyk people, as well as poetry and fiction.
Visitors to the exhibition got to know such books as “Kumyk borrowings in the Chechen language”, “History of the Caucasus and the village of Endirei”, “Ethnoatlas of the Republic of Dagestan”, “I am grateful to fate …”, “Towers in the mountains”, “Clothing of the peoples of Dagestan”, “History of Turks and Kumyks from ancient times”, “Ethnic history of the Terek-Sulak interfluve” and others.
During the event it was also noted that Kumyk traditions are closely intertwined with Chechen ones since the two peoples have been living next to each other in peace and harmony for hundreds of years.
