Local Knowledge about Stars

The Aigine Cultural Research Center team, together with the initiative group “Jyldyz Sanak,” is preparing to implement a new project called “Baldar Asmany” (Children’s Sky). The main goal of the project is to revive, adapt, and transmit ancient traditional knowledge about the starry world and celestial spheres to children. The expected outcomes of the project include the publication of a colorful book in Kyrgyz containing three indigenous legends, as well as the creation of an animated film revealing traditional knowledge and representations of the movement of celestial bodies and the arrangement of stars related to some petroglyphs at Saimaluu-Tash. On June 18, the Aigine Cultural Research Center team held the first meeting with members of the initiative group “Jyldyz Sanak” – senior lecturer at J. Balasagyn KGNU, astronomy teaching methodology specialist Abakir Kalybekov, and independent journalist and researcher of Kyrgyz genealogy Shaakan Toktogul. The initial activities and expected outcomes of the project were discussed at the meeting.