The traditional Kyrgyz women’s headdress, known as “Elechek,” has secured a coveted spot on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, TuraNews.kz reports citing the Kabar news agency.
Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, the Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to UNESCO, shared that the unanimous decision to include Elechek was reached during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This session, occurring from December 4 to 9 in Kasane, Botswana, saw Elechek stand out among 60 nominations, with international experts recognizing it as one of the best and well-prepared nominations.
The meticulous preparation for this recognition took three years and involved collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Min Kyyal public foundation, the Permanent Delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic to UNESCO, and the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO. The nomination, titled “Elechek, Kyrgyz women’s headdress: traditional knowledge and rituals,” was officially presented to the UNESCO Secretariat in 2021, marking a significant achievement for Kyrgyz cultural heritage.
