A bundle of feathers collected from the plumage of a live owl is called üki by the Kazakhs – an extremely powerful amulet. It was hung on the cradle of a child or on a dombra, sewn to the headdress of a taqiya, woven into the tail of a horse before a race, etc. Headdresses with üki were worn not only by girls and brides, but also by sarcastic figures – baqsy, sal-seri and akyns. In the Kazakh wedding ceremony there was a rite “üki tağu“, when relatives of the groom attached a bunch of owl feathers to the bride’s saukele, after which the girl was considered engaged (analogous to the rite syrğa tağu).
Ethnographers believe that the popular conception of this talisman is related to the bird’s way of life, which does not sleep at night: during the nocturnal reign of evil spirits, owl feathers protect their owner or an objector thing. The owl is sacralized in many cultures around the world, often acting as a diviner, messenger of the divine, and bringer of wisdom. For example, the ancient Greek goddess Athena had an owl as her sacred companion.
The feathers of an owl are used as a talisman and a sign of the status of the bearer – a child, a girl, a bride, and representatives of the sacred world – shamans, poets, etc.
