In December 24, 2009 Aigine CRC held a reception “Aigine 5 years old: Moving forward with tradition”. The colleagues and friends of the center, representatives of other organizations with similar missions and grantees of TCF, regional program officer and coordinator of TCF, guardians and visitors of sacred sites, representatives of culture and science, community, Mass Media and politics were invited for the reception.
The results of work that Aigine CRC has done in 2009 and in five years were presented in the reception. In 2009 the books “Sacred sites of Issyk-Kul: spiritual powers, pilgrimage, and art” in Russian, Kyrgyz and English-language versions were published. The book includes information that was collected by Aigine CRC in Isyk-Kul region in 2007-2009. Another big outcome of the year has become a new website “Traditional Wisdom in Kyrgyzstan”, and it includes the data that has been collected by the center in Talas, Issyk-Kul and Jalal-abad oblasts from 2005. The website is also in three languages and will be launched by January 30, 2010 (http://tk.aigine.kg). The website will be constantly filled with new data. Publication of the books and website production was financed by The Christensen Fund (USA).
National singer of Kyrgyzstan Nurak Abdrahmanov demonstrated his personal method of teaching to play komuz using his special notes. The project on publishing classical note writings and writings with Abdrahmanov’s notes of 25 komuz melodies with video lessons in DVD is also financially supported by The Christensen (USA). The project by the administrative support of Aigine CRC will be concluded in January, 2011.
The reception went in unofficial interactive atmosphere. A piece of “Manas” epic was recited by Kubanychbek Almabekov, a famous song “Jailoodo” was performed by its author Jenishbek Mambetaliev and a friend of Aigine Madeleine Reeves. Honored singer of Kyrgyzstan Talgar Jakshylykov performed famous songs “Altyn Kazyk” and “Gori, gori moya zvezda” to the accompaniment of Chui orchestra. Culminating point of the reception was inviting everybody to the rituals “Sham jaguu” and “Jar saluu”. In that way the organizers of the reception proposed the guest to touch the tradition and make a wish for the New Year. Stand-up meal concluded the evening.
