A city-wide open tournament titled «National Game – National Heritage» was held at the National Museum in celebration of the Nauryz holiday among school students of Astana.
The competition featured five types of traditional games: Bes Asyk, Toguzkumalak, Bestemshe, Bes Taban, and Mancala.
Opening the event, Deputy Director of the National Museum for Collections Alibek Kuzzerbayev, Vice President of the World Toguzkumalak Association Makhsat Shotaev, and Executive Secretary of the Astana Asyk Atu Federation Toktar Studentuly expressed confidence that such events would give new momentum to the revival of national games and increase the number of participants. They also wished the contestants success.
Traditional Kazakh games are an invaluable cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation. Among them, asyk, toguzkumalak, and bestemshe hold a special place. The asyk game develops accuracy, agility, and speed in children and youth, fostering precision and courage. Toguzkumalak is an intellectual game requiring deep thinking, calculation, and strategy; it enhances logical thinking and cultivates patience and attentiveness. Bestemshe, considered a simplified version of toguzkumalak, is also based on calculation and helps develop thinking skills. Through such national games, the younger generation becomes familiar with the traditions of their people and absorbs the national spirit. This is an important way to preserve and pass on our cultural heritage to the future.
We express our gratitude to the winners of the competition for their participation.
«Bes Asyk»
Korkem Artykbay – School-Gymnasium No. 83
Yerkezhan Yerlan – School-Gymnasium No. 90
Symbat Turganbay – Secondary School No. 18
«Toguzkumalak»
Mergen Altynbek – School-Gymnasium No. 77
Abay Serikhan – Arka Alan National Sports Development Center
Kassym Yernatuly – Binom School named after A. Baitursynuly
«Bestemshe»
Beksultan Sapargali – Kindergarten No. 66 «Tolagai»
Zhanayym Karatai – Kindergarten No. 66 «Tolagai»
Damir Nurzhan – Secondary School No. 93
«Bes Taban»
Arman Shyngys – Secondary School No. 42
Miras Oserkhan – Arka Alan Center
Sungat Kazygan – Arka Alan Center
«Mancala»
Galymzhan Zhensikbay
Zhanar Mediyeva and Aidos Sapar
Baglan Askarov and Zhanbolat Darimbetov.
