THE “BESIK TOY” RITUAL AMONG THE KARAKALPAKS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS OF KARAKALPAKSTAN: LOCAL FEATURES AND CONTEMPORARY TRANSFORMATIONS

Abstract

This article examines the ethnographic features of the “Besik Toy” ritual, associated with placing an infant in a traditional cradle for the first time, among the Karakalpaks of the southern regions of Karakalpakstan. Particular attention is paid to the structural and functional characteristics of the traditional cradle (besik), the sequence of ritual practices, the symbolic meanings of individual ritual elements, and regional variations in their performance. The study is based on field ethnographic materials collected by the author in 2026. It identifies local features of the ritual in certain settlements of Beruniy, Turtkul, and Kungrad districts, as well as traditions recorded in settlements along the Amu Darya River. Special attention is given to the symbolism of seven collared garments placed on the cradle, the practices known as “shashiw” and “Besik shabiw,” and traditional beliefs concerning the protective functions of ritual actions. A comparison of field data with published ethnographic studies makes it possible to identify both common and distinctive features of the ritual among the Karakalpaks and Uzbeks of Southern Khorezm. The article also analyses contemporary transformations affecting the materials used in cradle production, its structural components, and traditional methods of infant care. The findings demonstrate that contemporary changes do not necessarily lead to the disappearance of traditional ritual practices; in many cases, these practices are adapted to new domestic conditions while retaining elements of their original symbolic meaning.