These photos were taken during a ‘sunnat to’y’, a traditional celebration held after a boy’s circumcision. Such events are becoming increasingly rare, as many families now choose to have the procedure carried out when the boys are still very young, or even immediately after birth, in order to minimise the trauma and the memory of the experience. Consequently, the custom of marking the occasion with large celebrations, similar to weddings, is also disappearing. In these photos in particular, you can see a traditional performance called Ot o’yin, which means ‘horse play’. In this performance, a man wears a horse costume whilst a boy rides him. They usually dance and play together, creating a festive and joyful scene. Surxondaryo Region, Uzbekistan.

Credit: Niginakhon Uralova (Uzbekistan, @niginakhon_)

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