Saturday 16 March 2013

Yurt

With the approaching Turkic New Year and "spring holiday", the school erected its yurt in the atrium.  During the last week, classes have been held inside it, plus other meetings.
The Yurt
It is surprising spacious; accommodating nearly 30 adults sitting inside.  Clearly, that would be fine for temporary shelter for a short meal or gathering, but that number would be a tight fit if they were to lie down and try to sleep in the yurt in the countryside.
The Area for Women in the Yurt
This was a "show" yurt not designed for the weather and rigours of outdoor life in the steppe.  Its function is to educate the students and the visiting overseas teaching staff about the heritage and culture of Kazakhstan.
The Area for the men in the Yurt
The items are laid out as they should be in a true "working" yurt which do still exist and get used further away from the urban centres.  The shape is supposed to represent the universe, the links in the ceiling linking the people of the world together.
The bed and Cradle in the Yurt

The Mongolian ger is similar in structure if not the same apart from its name.  The Mongolians, however do not like the word yurt, which they said was the Russian for tent, and their ger was nothing like a tent!  Semantics aside, both habitations are very similar in construction and purpose and have served the nomads well for generations in the steppes and mountains of central Asia.

No comments:

Post a Comment