June 6, 2013

0670 UZBEKISTAN (Surxondaryo) - A Kungrat old woman


Besides Uzbeks, in Uzbekistan live a number of ethnic minorities, among which are the Kungrats (also named Hongirat, Qongirat, Onggirat, Qongrat, Wangjila, Yongjilie, or Guangjila), who can be found mainly on the Surxondaryo valley, on extreme south-east of the country. The homeland of this tribe, one of the major divisions of the Mongols and Kazakhs, was located in the vicinity of Lake Hulun in northeastern Mongolia. Because the clans were never united, the tribe didn't known the military glory. Their greatest fame comes from the fact that Genghis Khan's mother, great grandmother, and first wife were all Kungrats.

The Kungrats clothing, especially the one of female, is much differed from the clothing of the inhabitants of the regions surrounding. The most interesting part of it is the headwear of Kungrat women, which consists of tyubeteika, shawl, kyigich (kulta), and bosh (ad verbum - a head). The headwear bosh is typical only of this region of the republic. It is twisted round like turban and presents a complicated structure consisted of several elements. First, a small cap kyigich (kulta) with over-plait fixture is being put on, and then it is being muffled with 3-5m of red or vinous fabric (puta).

The puta is winded with four-seven bright shawls of 80x80 cm in size, one after another in herringbone order. The bosh protects the head, but also in its pleats the women store small subjects (threads, needles, pins etc.) required. The number of shawls indicates the social status of the woman, who was called boibosh or kambagal bosh. Regarding the colors, they prefer red, pink, vinous and whity-pink. The fancy clothing of the Kungrat women can't be conceived without adornments, which also reflects their ethnic originality. They are made mainly of silver, fine beads, cornelian, coral and pearls.

About the stamps
The first two stamps are part of a set from a large definitive series, depicting Monuments of Uzbekistan.
2012.12.29 Monument of Berbaq (50 UZS) - It's on the postcard 0670
2012.12.29 Monument of Berbaq (200 UZS)- It's on the postcard 0670
2012.12.29 Monument of Al-Khorezmi (350 UZS)
2012.04.05 Monument of A. Temur (100 UZS)
2012.04.05 Monument of Berbaq (150 UZS)
2012.04.05 Monument of Berbaq (170 UZS)
2012.04.16 Monument of Al-Khorezmi (250 UZS)
2012.04.16 Monument of Al-Khorezmi (300 UZS)
2012.04.16 Monument of A. Temur (450 UZS)
2012.04.16 Monument of A. Temur (600 UZS) - It's on the postcard 1960
2013.04.17 Monument of A. Temur (110 UZS)
2013.04.17 Monument of Al-Khorezmi (1500 UZS)
2013.06.05 Monument of Al-Khorezmi (400 UZS)
2014.04.10 Monument of Al-Khorezmi (1000 UZS)
2014.11.10 Monument of Berbaq (290 UZS)
2014.11.10 Monument of A. Temur (500 UZS)

The third stamp is part of a series dedicated to Architecture of the Silk Way, designed by U.Yusupaliev and issued on October 9, 2009. On each mark is a graphic representation of a caravan. The series contain three stamps:
• A general view of a city of Khiva (350 UZS)
• Shayx Xovandi Tokhur Mausoleum (Toshkent) (750 UZS) - It's on the postcard 0670
• A great Silk way - the Samarkand gate XI century (Bukhara) (1250 UZS)

References
Hongirad - Wikipedia
Clothing of the Kungrat Women from Surkhandarya - Sanat
A series of stamps devoted to "Architecture of Uzbekistan" - Post of Uzbekistan official website

Sender: Shukhrat Rakhmatullaev (direct swap)
Sent from Tashkent (Uzbekistan), on 20.05.2013
Photo: A. Zueva

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