News

Altai Eagle Festival- (Small Eagle Festival as Lonely Planet called)- is 10 years old.

On 2003, Blue Wolf Travel signed a contract with local community of Sagsai soum (42°52′19.30″N and 89°37′21.21″) to be sponsor for "Altai Eagle Festival" project,which will be organized by local community.

We are happy to be "small". Blue Wolf support this festival, so Kazakh nomads can keep their unique Eaglehunting  and Nomadic Culture longer.We try to keep these festivals away from big cities and big advertisements.

 

ALTAI EAGLE FESTIVAL-2012

/PROGRAMME/

FESTIVAL DAY 1 / September 22

10:00               Opening ceremony, introductions, Eagle Hunting history and practice.

10:30                Parade of all participants.

11:00-13:00    Fox Skin

The real test of a hunter’s ability, Eagles must catch a fox skin dragged behind their trainer’s horse.

13:00-14:00     Break for lunch

14:00-16:00     Fox Skin

The real test of a hunter’s ability, Eagles must catch a fox skin dragged behind their trainer’s horse.

14:00-16:00     Archery

Same time will be started Western Mongolian Archery Competition.

Archery people will shoot from bow to balls  and goat skins on horse back.

16:00-17:00    Kyz Kuar

A race between a man and woman on horseback

 

17:00-18:00    Bushkashi - Tug of war played on horseback with killed goat, common throughout

Central Asia

 

18:00-18:30   Tiyn Teru - Riders compete to pick up flags or flowers from the ground during the

race

 

19:00               Break for dinner

 

FESTIVAL DAY 2 / September 23

10:00-13:00     Eagle Call

Tests hunter’s ability to ‘call’ Eagle to their horse from a distance

13:00-14:00     Break for lunch

14:00-15:00     Camel Race    6kms

It is one most funny and interesting game.Camel riders can be women and men.

15:00-16:00   Tiyn Teru - Riders compete to pick up flags or flowers from the ground during the

Race

16:00-17:00    Bushkashi - Tug of war played on horseback with killed goat, common throughout

Central Asia

17:00-17:30    Kyz Kuar

A race between a man and woman on horseback

 

17:30-18:00    Awards and Closing ceremony

 

*Extended program will be available at Festival

 

 

Involving the community in the Festival

• Blue Wolf is a partner with local Peace Corps volunteers on a Wheat Fund grant to establish and train a handicraft cooperative for countryside men and women
• Blue Wolf also supports the work of the Altai Mountain Crafts cooperative whose handicrafts will be available to guests during the festival
• We hire local English teachers to assist with translation during the Altai Eagle Festival
• All supplies for the festival were purchased through local retailers
• Over 40 Eagle Hunters will participate in the festival – your interest and participation help ensure this practice will remain a part of Altai Kazakh Culture