Vilnius, 13 August 2026 – A cultural and literary event entitled “Abai Day: Introduction to National Classical Literature as Part of Turkic Heritage” was held at the Vilnius Adomas Mickevičius Public Library as part of the celebration of Abai Day. The event was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan with the support of the Embassies of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Opening the event, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Timur Urazayev highlighted the philosophical and literary legacy of Abai Kunanbayuly, including the influence of Sufi motifs and Eastern intellectual traditions on his work. The Ambassador focused on Abai’s ideas of moral self-improvement, human freedom and responsibility, and the harmony of will, reason and heart. These same qualities remain particularly relevant today as humanity faces new challenges in the informational and social spheres. Abai’s role in the development of Kazakh written literature and in introducing Kazakh society to world classics through literary translation, which helped foster a broad international outlook and openness in Kazakh culture and mentality was emphasized.
The programme also addressed the literary heritage of the Turkic world. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Lithuania Tamerlan Garayev spoke about the contribution of Azerbaijani poetry to Turkic cultural heritage and world literature, presenting the works of its outstanding representatives. Dr Akan Gürbüz, lecturer at Vilnius University, outlined the main stages in the development of Turkish literature – from the Orkhon inscriptions to contemporary authors.
A separate part of the programme focused on introducing Lithuanian audiences to Kazakh literature through literary translation. Associate Professor of Vilnius University Antanas Smetona shared his experience of translating the novel “Mamluk” by a Kazak writer into Lithuanian, discussing the particularities and challenges of rendering the work in the Lithuanian language.
It was particularly symbolic that the event took place at the Adomas Mickevičius Library, which since 2020 has hosted the Abai Kunanbayuly Reading Room – “Abai Collection”, giving Lithuanian readers an opportunity to become acquainted with the works of the Kazakh thinker and the literature of Kazakhstan.
The event brought together representatives of Lithuanian governmental and public circles, the diplomatic corps, academia, the media and the Kazakh diaspora.
The celebration of Abai Day contributed to promoting Kazakh literature and culture abroad, as well as to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and Lithuania.
