Kazakh students and schoolchildren have laid out a puzzle with a portrait of Abai in Nur-Sultan. It consists of 200 drawings. Their authors are winners of international and national competitions. The same campaign to celebrate the birthday anniversary of the founder of Kazakh written literature was organized last year in Moscow. The portrait will be handed over to the Abai museum-reserve in Semei.
“Last year we thought for a very long time what to do to mark Abai’s 175th birth anniversary. We wanted to organize something interesting. There was an idea to lay out the biggest puzzle with a portrait of Abai Kunanbaiuly, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t do it due to the pandemic. We didn’t manage to make the puzzle as big as we wanted, because everything was closed here. So that’s why we put it out in Moscow at the monument to Abai. But we also decided to continue this tradition. Last year we said that the puzzle will be returned to Abai’s homeland,” said Olga Skalchuk, Coordinator of Cultural Programs at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Nur-Sultan.
The pandemic has made adjustments in all areas, including the celebration of the great poet’s birthday anniversary. This year’s celebration is not going to be massive. Thus, flowers were laid out at the monument and also the admirers of Abai’s work recited his immortal poems. They highlighted that the rich creative legacy of the philosopher will forever remain an invaluable treasure of all humankind.
“Abai’s works and legacy clearly reflect the idea that Kazakhs and Russians are fraternal nations and that we must preserve and strengthen this brotherhood, this friendship. And this idea is very relevant for us today and therefore I think it is right to say that not only Kazakh citizens celebrate Abai’s birthday anniversary today. People in Russia honor his memory and study his legacy too,” noted Alexey Borodavkin, Russian Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
Last year, on the 175th birth anniversary of the poet, August 10 was declared Day of Abai. In memory of his life and work, cultural and festive events are held not only in Kazakhstan, but all over the world.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova
