UNESCO recognizes Kazakh Betashar as Intangible Cultural Heritage

UNESCO has included Kazakh national tradition Betashar in its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Kazakhstan’s State Counsellor Erlan Karin reported. 

The inclusion of this rite in the cultural heritage list was announced during the session held in Paraguay.

«During the session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asunción, one of the ancient Kazakh rites, Betashar, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,» Karin reported.

Betashar is a traditional Kazakh wedding ritual in which the bride is introduced to the groom’s relatives for the first time. During the ceremony, an akyn (a traditional Kazakh singer) performs a special song, and the bride bows to the groom’s family. Following this, the bride’s face, which is covered by a veil, is unveiled by her future mother-in-law.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously expressed his desire for two Kazakh traditions — Betashar and Salburyn — to be included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Salburyn is a traditional collective hunting practice using birds of prey.

Kazakhstan’s contributions to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage currently include: the traditional Kazakh house, the yurt; games such as asyk atu and togyz kumalak; playing the dombra musical instrument; the Nauryz holiday; the Kazakhsha kures martial art and the aitys improvisational poetic competition.