Vilnius, May 27–28, 2025 — Under the auspices of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Lithuania, the Lithuanian and Latvian Toguzkumalak Federations and the “Santaros” Gymnasium in Vilnius, a master class and the Second International Children’s Tournament in the Kazakh intellectual game toguzkumalak took place in Vilnius.

The First tournament was held in May 2024, marking the beginning of a new tradition of cultural exchange between Kazakhstan and the Baltic countries.

This time more than 30 schoolchildren from Lithuania and Latvia gathered in Vilnius not only to compete in strategic skills, but also to become acquainted with a game that was inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.

At the opening of the tournament, it was emphasized that toguzkumalak is not just a game but a part of the nation’s philosophy, combining strategy, patience, and respect for the opponent. “This game is a bridge of mutual understanding, allowing us to speak the language of culture and intellect,” Ambassador T. Urazayev noted.

A special interest among the participants was sparked by a mini-exhibition of books by Kazakh authors translated into Lithuanian, organized at the initiative of the Embassy. Students and guests had the opportunity to explore works that reveal the spiritual foundations of the Kazakh people — from M. Auezov’s epic The Path of Abai to the historical novel Mamluk by E. Tursunov.

Familiarizing with Kazakh culture and history is particularly significant in light of the commemorative dates of this year: the 180th anniversary of poet Abai Kunanbayev, the 100th anniversary of the Hero of the Soviet Union Aliya Moldagulova, the 100th anniversary of composer Nurgisa Tlendiyev, the 125th anniversary of composer Isa Baizakov, the 35th anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty, and the 30th anniversaries of the Constitution and the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. These anniversaries highlight various pages of the country’s history and the richness of Kazakh spiritual heritage as a foundation for intercultural dialogue.

The winners of the toguzkumalak tournament received diplomas from the Toguzkumalak Federation of Kazakhstan and commemorative prizes. The Embassy of Kazakhstan expresses its gratitude to President of the Latvian Togyzkumalak Federation L.Azimova, Vice-President of the Lithuanian  Federation R.Zhandarienė, the administration of “Santaros” Gymnasium for their contributions to the promotion and development of Kazakh intellectual culture in the Baltic States.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-vilnius/press/news/details/1005697?lang=kk