The story
Salbuurun Bokonbayevo Festival in Bokonbayevo
Named for Kyrgyzstan's combined hunting arts of eagle falconry, taigan sighthounds, and mounted archery, the Salbuurun festival gathers hundreds each August in Bokonbayevo on Issyk-Kul's south shore for hunting demonstrations, wrestling, throat singing, and craft displays. Its village setting and close visitor access to berkutchi handlers and their eagles keep the event feeling like a working tradition rather than a staged tourist show.
Salbuurun, the umbrella name for Kyrgyzstan's traditional combined hunting arts of golden-eagle falconry, taigan sighthound coursing, and mounted archery, gives its name to the annual festival staged in Bokonbayevo, the modest village on Issyk-Kul's southern shore that has become the country's principal stage for eagle-hunting heritage.