On the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Qunanbaiuly, a final literary and musical evening titled «Abai – dana, Abai – dara» was held at the Vocational and Technical College in Astana. The event dedicated to Abai’s legacy was opened by the Nura district’s dance group «Qyzdarai» with the performance of the dance «Keń dala». The festive evening gathered prominent public figures, cultural and literary personalities, heads of educational institutions, leaders of veteran organizations, and lovers of Kazakh literature.
This event marked the final stage of a large-scale project initiated by the Astana City Akimat’s «Center for Active Longevity». The evening featured participants who had shown outstanding performance in previous activities such as Abai readings, essay competitions, musical concerts, challenges, and conferences over the past few weeks. The program included readings of Abai’s poetry, musical performances, traditional kuis, and excerpts from essays inspired by his philosophical prose, the «Qara Sozder». A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a giant decorative kimishek created in honor of Abai’s mother, Zere. This artwork titled «Zere äzhe rūkhyna taǵzym» was a collaborative effort by the «Aq Bata» fashion group and its creative leader Tomiris Baitenova. The kimishek measured 1.8 meters in height and 1.1 meters in width and symbolized the wisdom and cultural legacy of Kazakh mothers.
Throughout the evening, performances were given by poetry readers Erkin Qasenov, Zhumagat Mukanov, Qanysha Bakhtina, and Külända Süirіkbaeva. Talented retiree Ermek Túrlybaev delivered a heartfelt rendition of Abai’s song «Ayttym sälem Qalamqas», while other well-known songs such as «Kózimnіń qarasy», «Tatyananyń haty», «Qairan elim qazaǵym, qairan júrtым», and «Zhelsіz túnde zharyq ai» were also performed.
Special recognition was given to Aımyrza Iskakov for his insightful and philosophical essay, which stood out during the essay competition based on Abai’s prose.
This event, aimed at honoring Abai’s enduring legacy, was carried out under the project «Abai – khalyqtyń rukhani temіrqazyǵy» initiated by the director of the Center for Active Longevity, Mukhtar Erketaev. It successfully combined national spirit and educational value, promoting Abai’s heritage to both the younger generation and the wider public.
