Hungary Celebrates the 180th Anniversary of Kazakh Poet and Thinker Abai Qunanbaiuly

Budapest, 10 August 2025 - Today, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hungary organized a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Qunanbaiuly in Budapest to mark the 180th anniversary of his birth.

The event took place in the central city park on Astana Street, where Abai’s bust is located - a place where Kazakh citizens gather annually to honor the poet’s memory.

In his address, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Hungary Abzal Saparbekuly congratulated attendees on this significant occasion, noting that Abai’s legacy is an eternal source of spiritual wealth, moral values, and inspiration for the Kazakh people, as well as a bridge of cultural understanding between Kazakhstan and Hungary. The diplomat emphasized that, by the decision of the Head of State, 10 August has been declared Abai Day, and that cultural events dedicated to the thinker are celebrated not only in Kazakhstan but also abroad.

The festive program continued with performances by Hungarian artists and admirers of Kazakh literature. Mr. Attila Vas recited one of Abai’s quatrains in Hungarian: “Embereknek ne higyj, bárhogy dicsérnek” (“Do not trust people, no matter how much they praise you”). Talented Hungarian singer Timea Janurik, accompanied by a national instrument, gave a heartfelt performance of the song “Men bir zhumbak adammin” (“I am a mystery man”) by composer Saken Turysbek, set to Abai’s words.

At the conclusion of the event, Ambassador Abzal Saparbekuly, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, presented the state award - the “Shapagat” medal - to Timea Janurik for her significant contribution to cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Note: In 2020, the poet’s birthday was officially declared a public holiday in Kazakhstan. This celebration underscores the importance of Abai as a great thinker for Kazakh culture and his influence on the development of literature and enlightenment in the country.