After traveling to Kazakhstan, the names of places or historical facts about the country may be forgotten, but the delicious Kazakh cuisine and hospitality will certainly be remembered and will remain in memory forever.
For Kazakhs, a guest is the most desired and respected person, who will be always welcomed and treated with all the dishes that they have at home.
Without this unwritten law, it was impossible to survive on steppes. Going on the road, the ancient traveler often was alone in the endless steppe. On the way, he might run out of food and drink, but there was hope that the families he met along the way would invite him and feed him. The hosts had no right to refuse to help the travelers. It was considered a disgrace for the family to refuse a guest and not show him due respect.
To this day, hospitality is an integral part of Kazakh culture. The Kazakhs have their own hierarchy of guests. They divide them into 2 categories: “kudai konak” (God’s messenger) and “arnayi konak” (honored guest). Elders of the village and clan are considered honorary invited guests. They especially prepare for the reception of relatives of the bride or groom (kudalar). As for the “kudai konak”, any traveler could be the messenger of God, according to popular belief, he brought good luck to the house.
The hosts strictly observe the etiquette of receiving a guest. First of all, the guest is allowed to wash his hands, then he is seated in the central place of honor (tor). The most respected guest is seated as far as possible from the entrance.
Kazakhs always put the best on the table. Even if this is the last lamb, it is slaughtered to treat the visitor. The head of a lamb is given to the most honored guest. With the head, bas tabaq is served, and the main tray with the meat. It is presented to the elderly and especially respected guests. There is also syy tabaq (an extra tray of meat where you can put any parts of the lamb), zhai tabaq (a standard tray of meat) and zhastar tabagy (a tray of meat for young people).
At the end of the meal, the guest gives bata – a blessing. Basically, it is pronounced by the elderly guests and expresses gratitude to the hosts for the reception. The leftovers (sarkyt) of food are given to the guests to treat relatives, neighbors or friends.
