Genre-Typological Features of the Karakalpak and Kazakh Bet Ashars

This article offers a comparative study of the genre-typological features of the bet ashar tradition, which is closely connected with the customs and wedding rituals of the Karakalpak and Kazakh peoples. It discusses the place of the bet ashar tradition in the literature and folklore of the two peoples, its genre characteristics, compositional structure, performance features, and ideological and artistic content. On the basis of comparative analysis, the genre peculiarities and distinctive national features of the bet ashars of the two peoples are identified. The results of the article are of great importance for studying the literature, customs and traditions, folklore heritage, and mutual spiritual ties of the Karakalpak and Kazakh peoples.