Seven days and nights narration of Manas epic concludes in Kyrgyzstan

Seven days and nights narration of Manas epic has been concluded in Kyrgyzstan's capital with the celebration of the Manas Day.

During seven days and nights 33 Manas narrators aged from 5 to 83, including from all the regions of Kyrgyzstan gathered in Bishkek to narrate Manas.

One of the Manas narrators, 32 years old former lawyer Ulan Ismailov, who took part in the event by narrating Manas during 9 hours without break, told Xinhua that he started to narrate Manas 15 years ago and now he is one of the co-founders of the International Fund of Sayakbay Karalaev.

During the solemn meeting in Bishkek he received an award from the hand of Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Zheenbekov for his contribution to the development of national culture.

"It was really surprise. I didn't expect this award," he said.

He also told that now their Fund plans to hold the same kind of event in China in summer.

"The Chinese side has already approved conducting of this event and now the International Fund of Sayakbay Karalaev is holding negotiations with the Manas center in China," he said.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sooronbai Zheenbekov, in his welcoming remark highlighted the Mans epic' s role.

"Such kind of events like seven days and nights narration of Manas epic, which has been conducting in Kyrgyzstan for the third time, assisted Kyrgyzstan to be known in the world. The Kyrgyz Government pays a special attention to propaganda of Manas epic among the youth," he said.

PR director of the Fund Maksat Toktonaliev told that the aim of the activity is the propaganda of Manas epic, in order to the young people did not forgot this epic.

"The well known Manas narrator Sayakbay Karalaev was born on May 7 and we decided to organize the event for 7 days and 7 nights. Karalaev could narrate Manas round the clock. And 3 years ago the International Fund of Sayakbay Karalaev started such action devoted to Sayakbay Karalaev, he said.

Toktonaliev also believed that the Manas epic can be a connection link for the culture exchange between Kyrgyzstan and China.

The epic of Manas now is narrated mainly in Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang, China, where the Kyrgyz ethnic minority live.

"Manas narrator Jusup Mamai, who was born in China's Xinjiang contributed much in intercultural relations between the two countries," he said.

The Manas epic is translated into many languages. The version of Jusup Mamai was published in China.

Manas is the largest Kyrgyz epic, which is included in the list of masterpieces of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, as well as in the Guinness Book of Records as the most voluminous epic in the world. Endit