Let's Play with Children: Kazakh National Games

The sweetest memories from our childhood are the memories of games. However, as today's children are glued to their tablets and phones, the games passed down from our ancestors are being forgotten. We invite you to revive those games and play them with your children!

Today, we will talk about two national games — Bestemshe and Bes Tas. Both develop children's attention, agility, and logical thinking. And both are now accessible!

🎲 Bestemshe — a cultural heritage that tells the story of the game

Bestemshe is not just a game, but a cultural heritage with deep historical roots. Its earliest written references can be found in the 11th century in Mahmud Kashgari's work "Diwani Lughat al-Turk". The name of the game comes from the phrase "five cubes".

The rules of Bestemshe reflect the values of our people:

→ Right move — with the good wish of "May your affairs go well", it continues with the tradition of approaching the horse from the right side and greeting with the right hand.

→ “Black Roof” custom — by leaving one stone in place, it symbolizes the tradition of a child staying with their parents and preserving the family.

→ The value of even numbers — stones are only taken when they are in pairs. This is synonymous with the idea that "we only grow when we are in pairs".

→ The principle of not marrying within seven generations — the rule of not taking stones from your own family is similar to the tradition of respecting inter-clan kinship.

Our ancestors instilled these values in children's minds through the game. The game board is made from sturdy southern wood and treated with natural honey from the east. The stones are hand-molded from clay from the west and processed in the north. They are placed in a pouch sewn from leather from the central region. Thus, all four corners of Kazakhstan converge in one game.

The game is played between two players. The goal is to collect at least 26 stones in your pot. The strategic depth of the game and the essence of its rules teach the child to make decisions.

🪨 Bes Tas — a game of agility, attention, and fun

Bes Tas was originally played by girls when they were tired of embroidery, as a way to stretch their hands. Over time, it became a favorite game among children. The game of Bes Tas is played all over the world and has a history that dates back to ancient times.

There are 11 techniques in the game. There is no limit to the number of players. Bes Tas develops hand motor skills, speed, agility, and attention. The techniques increase in difficulty — without patience and courage, there is no victory!

The “Silent” technique — players are prohibited from speaking during the game, while the other players try to make them laugh. In the “Sart-surt” technique, the stones must hit each other and make a sound. The one who passes through all 11 techniques without stumbling is the winner!

What does Bes Tas teach a child?

✓  Develops hand motor skills and coordination

✓  Enhances speed and agility

✓  Teaches attention and patience

✓  Strengthens friendship and team spirit through playing together

🛒 Talapai — a project to revive games

TALAPAI is a project aimed at reviving Kazakh games and promoting them to the public. The word “Talapai” means “to put something into contention”.

In three years, the project has been presented at major international exhibitions and received invitations from major brands for design collaboration. The external form, internal content, and production methods of each game in the project hold significant cultural value.

Prices:

🎲  Bestemshe — 30,000 tenge (both types)

🪨  Bes Tas — 8,000 tenge

The rules of the games are provided in three languages (Kazakh, Russian, English). In the future, cheaper versions made from other materials will also be released.

Give your child a real game instead of a screen.

This is not just a game, but a history, culture, and a warm moment between child and parent.

To get Talapai games, contact us directly

https://www.instagram.com/talapai_kz/