The VIII World Festival “Epics of the Peoples of the World” has ended in Kyrgyzstan, bringing together the best singers and storytellers from Altai, Kalmykia, Dagestan, Tuva, Sakha (Yakutia), Khakassia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, France and Turkmenistan on one platform.

Our country was represented at the festival by Honored Bakhshi Kerven Evbasarov, who performed fragments of the epic "Görogly", as well as master zergar Shazada Orazberdiyev, who presented a collection of magnificent jewelry. They took part in the grand opening of the festival and in the ritual "Түндүк көтөрүү" – Raising the dome of the Yurt of Peace.

An ethnographic village "Kyrgyz Nomad" was set up in one of Bishkek's squares. An international exhibition of decorative and applied arts and folk art was organized for the participants and guests of the festival.

The rich program of events also included a demonstration of cultural diversity and a tasting of national cuisine; a visit to the play "Taitoru" at the Kyrgyz National Theater "Manas"; a screening of the feature film "Song of the Tree"; international competitions "Best Yurt", "Nomad Style", "Best Storyteller"; an international symposium on the theme "Universal Nature of the Epic: Typology and Basic Ethnic Models"; a round table of designers "Ethnic Style and Image of Time"; a master class "School of the Young Storyteller"; a theatrical gala concert and an award ceremony for the winners of the competitions.

For three days, fragments of outstanding epics and novels, poetic poems and tales were performed on the central square, revealing the unique flavor of each nation.

The World Festival "Epics of the Peoples of the World" has been held since 2006. This year the event, which took place from May 28 to 30, was dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the great manaschi Sayakbai Karalaev.