According to the president's press service, this event became an important platform for uniting efforts to protect the snow leopard, promoting the natural and cultural heritage of the region, as well as attracting tourists and facilitating sustainable development of mountain areas.
As part of the festival, a ceremonial opening of a new bridge and a viewing platform near the jade stone took place, adding another attraction to the list of tourist sites in the Jeti-Oguz district.
Dina Kemelova emphasized that the snow leopard, which has become a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan at the initiative of President Sadyr Japarov, represents not only the natural wealth of the country but also an important indicator of the state of mountain ecosystems.
She also noted that work on snow leopard conservation is being carried out systematically within the framework of the Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Mountain Regions (2023–2027), which includes ecosystem protection, improving the living conditions of local communities, and developing sustainable ecotourism.
As part of the festival, a sculpture competition was held, where participants created figures of the snow leopard from ice, snow, foam, and other materials, as well as a drawing and art competition involving schoolchildren, teachers, and educators from the Jeti-Oguz district.
National games were also showcased, along with an exhibition of local artisans' products, a display of traditional clothing, horseback riding and sledding, as well as tasting of national dishes.
The event was attended by representatives of various ministries and departments, local authorities, business structures, and public organizations, artisans, residents of Jeti-Oguz and neighboring districts, as well as guests from abroad. In total, the festival gathered more than 2,000 participants.
