Turmush — In the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul region, as part of the celebration of the 234th anniversary of Balbai Baatir Eshkozho uulu, a monument in his honor was opened in the village of Tyup.
The event was attended by public figures, historians, deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh, regional and district leadership, as well as local residents. Along with this, sports games at the republican level were organized, which included four types of equestrian competitions and an archery competition at a distance of 50 meters.
“At the event, sports games of the republican level were held. 25 athletes from Bishkek, 18 from Karakol, 8 from the Tyup region and 6 from the Ton Valley took part in the 50-meter archery and horseback archery competitions (jamby atuu). In addition, participants from all regions of Kyrgyzstan arrived at the equestrian games. Races took place: tai chabysh (2 laps), kunan chabysh (5 laps), chong jorgo (6 laps) and alaman zharysh (9 laps), and the winners were awarded valuable prizes,” said Kubat Eshmukhambetova, head of the Karakol Archery Federation.
The two-day event at the republican level was also accompanied by a scientific conference, in which historians, politicians and public figures took part.
The great-great-grandson of Balbai Baatyr in the 4th generation, Turatbek Usonov, briefly dwelled on historical information:
“To the question “Who was Balbai Eshkozho uulu?” one should always answer that he was a baatyr who defended his people and gave his life for them. In folk legends, he is known as an outstanding commander who fought against external invaders for the freedom and independence of the Bugu tribe. I myself am his great-great-grandson in the 4th generation. This year the baatir turns 234 years old. His kumboz (mausoleum) is located in the now existing village of Balbay (Sary-Bulak). According to information, during the era of Tsarist Russia he was poisoned and died a week later. His body was buried in his native village. With deep respect and reverence, local residents first built a kumboz, bringing bricks from an old destroyed house from Koy-Sary on carts.
Later, in Soviet times, there were people who dismantled the bricks of the mausoleum to build stoves in their homes. There is information that some of them subsequently became disabled. Later the mausoleum was rebuilt. Thus, kumboz underwent restoration twice. In the same year, a monument was erected to him at the entrance to the village of Tyup. In 1992, when holding a wake in honor of Balbai Baatir, it was assumed that 2-3 thousand people would gather, but the local people gathered in the amount of about 10 thousand, on their own initiative setting up yurts and holding a grandiose celebration. The baatyr’s life path, his feat and mark in history were also published in the form of books thanks to the works of writers.”
