Nomadic Culture Festival in Azerbaijan: tents, horse racing and archery

Azerbaijan has hosted the first Nomadic Cultural Festival in Azerbaijan –Yaylaq. 

From July 26 to July 28, the atmosphere of nomadic life with horse racing, shooting ranges and national food was recreated in the Gadabay district in the west of the country.

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The festival was organized by the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Coordination (TIKA) “in order to develop and promote the nomadic culture and community traditions in Azerbaijan”, Azertaj writes.

Participants came from both Azerbaijan itself and a dozen neighboring countries, including Georgia and Russia.

For the festival, a nomadic village was recreated, where guests lived in tents and could watch the competitions of strongmen, riders and archers and listen to folk music. 

The festival took place almost without incident – except for the collision of two horse riders, who were both lightly injured. 

Photo: Milli Yaylaq Festivalı