May 29 1992· State day
Armed Forces Day
The anniversary of the founding of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On 29 May 1992 the Armed Forces of independent Kyrgyzstan were established, and the date has since been marked as Armed Forces Day.
The Kyrgyz army guards the borders of this mountainous country and the passes of the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay. The people's heroic traditions — the brave Manas and his forty companions from the thousand-year-old Manas epic — are the basis of patriotic education in the army.
How it is marked
Military units hold ceremonies, oath-taking, sports competitions and concerts, and distinguished servicemen receive awards. In Bishkek the changing of the guard on Ala-Too Square is held with special ceremony.
Video
Photos
Changing of the guard on Ala-Too Square, Bishkek · Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Kyrgyz army training · Senior Airman Brett Clashman / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain 
Kyrgyz servicemen · Senior Airman Brett Clashman / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain 
The flag of Kyrgyzstan · Kalpak Travel / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 
The Manas epic — the hero Manas in battle · USSR Post / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain 
Manas monument in Bishkek · Ninara from Helsinki, Finland / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Kyrgyzstan: other days
- January 1New Year's Day
- January 7Orthodox Christmas
- February 23Defender of the Fatherland Day
- March 5Ak-kalpak Day
- March 8International Women's Day
- March 21Nooruz
- April 7Day of the People's April Revolution
- May 1Labour Day
- May 5Constitution Day
- May 9Victory Day
- August 31Independence Day
- September 23State Language Day
- October 3Founding of the Organization of Turkic States
- November 7Days of History and Commemoration of Ancestors
- 10 Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar — the feast of the Hajj pilgrimage; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Adha
- 1 Shawwal in the Islamic calendar — the end of the Ramadan fast; moves about 11 days earlier each yearEid al-Fitr