Karabai Kurbayev, a resident of
the Turkistan region, is promoting the cultural values of the Kazakh people. He
has been engaged in making traditional yurts, the most sacred craft for the descendants
of nomads, for over two years now. Having inherited the woodworking skills from
his father, he later opened a workshop and trained his employees. The yurt
frames are made of elm and willow, with all materials processed manually,
despite the availability of modern equipment. In this way, the craftspeople are
dedicated to preserving the ancestral traditions and maintaining the nomadic
authenticity.
“Here, we pour water and light a
fire; everything gets filled with steam, and then it undergoes the drying
process. We steam it for two to four hours, depending on wood thickness. While
there are now various types of machines for cutting wood, the master continues
to do everything by hand, without using any modern equipment,” said a craftsperson
Abai Zhalgasbekuly.
In the future, the craftsman
plans to expand his production, given the significant demand for yurts. The
nomads’ portable house is popular throughout the country, and the workshop is
receiving orders for a year ahead.
“Lots of orders are coming in,
and accordingly, I ensure timely salary payments. For example, we currently
have a big order from Oskemen for 20 Kazakh yurts, which we aim to manufacture
by spring. Over the past two years, we have assembled a total of 150 yurts,”
said a carpenter Karabai Kurbayev.
The Kurbayev family intends to
set up yurts in the most visited tourist areas. Thus, they aim to promote and
popularize the heritage of nomadic culture and the national values of the
people.
