Participants of equestrian crossing through Adygea report revival of Circassian traditions
About 100 horsemen from Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and the Krasnodar Territory became participants in the equestrian crossing. The action is aimed at the revival of the Adyg traditions of horse breeding and horseman culture, which declined during the Soviet era, and the popularization of the Kabardian breed of horses.
The campaign is timed to the holiday of May 9, and the participants of the action intend to pay tribute to the memory of the people killed in three wars, including the Russian Civil War and World Wars I and II. This was reported by Albert Tkhapshokov, one of the organizers, the head of the Adyg branch of the "Shuuay Khase". Adygs were members of equestrian parts and took part in each of those wars.
Among the goals of the action, Albert Tkhapshokov mentioned popularization of the equestrian sports and fighting harmful habits.
Adygs (or Circassians) is a common name of a single nation in Russia and abroad, divided into Circassians, Adygs, Kabardians and Shapsugs. In Russia, the Adygs live in Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and the Krasnodar Territory.
The equestrian crossing is a ritual to form the Circassian identity, believes Naima Neflyasheva, the author of the blog "Northern Caucasus through the centuries" at the "Caucasian Knot".
"People treated horse breeding as a prestigious occupation. Horse games and racing are a demonstration of the qualities of an ideal warrior. The equestrian crossing is a symbolic thread to bring back a modern Circassian in the era of the legendary ancestors," Naima Neflyasheva wrote in her post.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Source: CK correspondents