The Hindi Language Festival was celebrated at the Faculty of Oriental Studies

     On September 29, 2023, a cultural event dedicated to the International Hindi Language Day – Hindi Divas was organized at the Indology Department of the Middle East and South Asia Department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals project. Officially, this day celebrates the recognition of the Hindi language as the national language for India. This event took place on September 14, 1949, and was later enshrined in the Constitution of India.

    The celebration of Hindi divas at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has a 25-year history, when in 1998 the first Hindi language study group in Kazakhstan was opened at the Faculty of Oriental Studies. Since then, KazNU indologists have been supporting this tradition every year. The guests of honor of this holiday were the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Kazakhstan, Mr. Nagendra Prasad, Director of Swami Vivekananda  Indian Cultural Center Mr. Sanjay Vedi, Assistant Consul General of the Republic of India Mr. N.Bora. The Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of Jawaharlal Nehru University was also present (India, Delhi), Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, Representative of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Mr. Bhaskar Bikram Chetiya, Director of the Kazakh-Indian Classical Dance Center Akmaral Kainazarova.

     The program opened with the performance of the national anthem of the Republic of India on a flute, which made a great impression on the guests. Then there were songs and poems in Hindi. Indology students also prepared presentations about India and the Hindi language and were active in communicating with the guests.

     The teachers and students who organized the event were presented with letters of thanks on behalf of the Ambassador of India, Mr. N. Prasad.

     The event was held in a warm, friendly atmosphere and ended with a small buffet: Indian masala tea with spices, traditional samos pies, sweets gulab jamun.

                                                                                                                          Bokuleva B.S.

Department of the Middle East and South Asia