From Dombra to Sitar: A Musical Dialogue Between Kazakhstan and India KT Exclusive
National Dombra Day celebrates one of Kazakhstan's most treasured cultural symbols — the dombra. More than a musical instrument, it has long served as the voice of the Kazakh people, preserving history, traditions and collective memory through music.
This year's celebration also became an opportunity for a cultural dialogue between Kazakhstan and India through the universal language of music. To mark the occasion Kazakhstan Today spoke with Indian sitar virtuoso, educator and professor Rajesh Shah. His lifelong work has been dedicated to preserving one of the world’s oldest classical musical traditions.
Kazakhstan Today: The dombra is regarded as one of Kazakhstan's most treasured national instruments. In India, what role does the sitar play in preserving cultural identity and tradition?
Rajesh Shah: Just as the Dombra has been recognized as the national musical instrument of Kazakhstan, the Sitar has not been officially declared the national instrument of India. However, the Veena, one of India's most ancient and revered instruments, continues to hold a place of great significance in the country's musical heritage. The sitar is widely regarded as having evolved from the veena.
Among India's string instruments, the Sitar is the most widely performed and internationally recognized. Although the Sitar and the Dombra differ in their playing techniques, construction, and materials, they also share many similarities. The musical expressions, melodic structures, and emotional depth of both instruments reflect a common artistic spirit.
Furthermore, I believe that there are remarkable musical connections between the traditions of Kazakhstan and India. Some melodies and musical expressions found in Kazakh music resonate with the spirit of Indian ragas, creating a fascinating cultural and artistic bridge between our two nations. Such similarities remind us that music is a universal language that transcends geographical boundaries and brings people closer together.
Kazakhstan Today: Before our conversation, you mentioned that you had been learning about the dombra and Kazakh musical traditions. As you began discovering this musical heritage, what interested you most?
Rajesh Shah: There are many remarkable similarities between the Kui tradition of Kazakhstan and the Raga tradition of India. A Kui is not merely a musical composition; it narrates a story, conveys emotions, and reflects the history, culture, and experiences of the people.
Similarly, in Indian classical music, a Raga is much more than a sequence of notes. Each Raga possesses its own unique personality, character, and emotional expression. Just as every human being has a distinct nature and identity, every Raga has its own individual mood and aesthetic essence.
As musicians, we express this unique character and emotional depth through musical notes, instrumental performance, and vocal music. In this way, both the Kazakh Kui and the Indian Raga traditions demonstrate how music can tell stories, convey emotions, and communicate profound artistic ideas beyond the boundaries of language.
Kazakhstan Today: Both the dombra tradition and the sitar tradition have been passed from teacher to student over many generations. Why is this personal relationship so important in preserving musical heritage?
Rajesh Shah: The Kui tradition of Kazakhstan and the Raga tradition of India are both ancient musical traditions that have been preserved and passed down through countless generations. They continue to serve as powerful symbols of their respective nations' cultural identities and are performed and taught with great dedication to ensure that this rich heritage is carried forward to future generations.
The methods of transmitting these traditions also share remarkable similarities. In India, classical music has traditionally been taught through the Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher-disciple tradition), where knowledge is passed directly from the guru to the student through close personal guidance and practice.
Similarly, in Kazakhstan, the traditions of Dombra performance and Kui music have also been preserved through a master-apprentice tradition, with experienced musicians passing their knowledge, techniques, and artistic values from one generation to the next. This shared approach to musical education reflects the deep respect that both India and Kazakhstan have for their cultural heritage and the importance they place on preserving their musical traditions.
Kazakhstan Today: Although both küy and raga allow room for improvisation, they do so within well-defined musical structures. How do tradition and creative freedom exist together in Indian classical music? (If you wish, a short musical demonstration.)
Rajesh Shah: One of the most significant differences I observed between the Kui tradition of Kazakhstan and the Raga tradition of India lies in their musical presentation.
A Kui is a complete musical narrative. It tells a story, and its rhythmic structure is organically integrated into the composition from the very beginning. Melody and rhythm evolve together, allowing the music to convey its narrative in a continuous and unified form.
In contrast, the presentation of an Indian Raga follows a different artistic approach. It begins with the Alap, a slow and rhythm-free introduction that gradually reveals the personality, mood, and emotional character of the Raga. This opening allows the performer to introduce the essence of the Raga before any rhythmic accompaniment is added.
After the Alap, the performance continues with the accompaniment of percussion instruments, following a structured rhythmic cycle (Tala). The Raga then develops progressively through Vilambit (slow tempo), Madhya (medium tempo), and Drut (fast tempo). Finally, the performance reaches its climax with the Jhala, a highly energetic and virtuosic concluding section characterized by great speed, brilliance, and rhythmic intensity.
Although the presentation styles of Kui and Raga differ, both traditions represent profound musical philosophies and serve as extraordinary expressions of the cultural heritage of Kazakhstan and India.
Kazakhstan Today: As someone who has devoted your life to performing, teaching and preserving Indian classical music, what do you think musicians from different cultures can learn from one another through their traditional musical heritage?
Rajesh Shah: I believe there are remarkable musical connections between the traditions of Kazakhstan and India. Some melodies and musical expressions found in Kazakh music resonate with the spirit of Indian ragas, creating a fascinating cultural and artistic bridge between our two nations. Such similarities remind us that music is a universal language that transcends geographical boundaries and brings people closer together.
Kazakhstan Today: Finally, what message would you like to share with the people of Kazakhstan as they celebrate National Dombra Day?
Rajesh Shah: I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Government of Kazakhstan for its remarkable initiative in establishing National Dombra Day and for its dedicated efforts to preserve, promote, and celebrate this unique folk instrument. Such an initiative not only strengthens Kazakhstan's rich cultural heritage but also serves as an inspiration to musicians, scholars, and lovers of traditional music around the world.
As an Indian musician, I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government of Kazakhstan, its artists, and all the people of Kazakhstan. I sincerely hope that the beautiful melodies of the Dombra will continue to resonate across the world, carrying the rich cultural traditions of Kazakhstan to future generations.
Kazakhstan Today: As a special tribute to National Dombra Day, would you and your students perform "Kozimnin Karasy" on the sitar?
This year, National Dombra Day is celebrated on July 5. May the sound of the Dombra inspire, unite generations, and serve as a reminder of Kazakhstan's rich history, culture and traditions. On behalf of the Kazakhstan Today team we wish you peace, prosperity, creative inspiration and enduring pride in our national heritage.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Comic Con Astana 2026 Attracts Over 76,000 Visitors
The fifth international Comic Con Astana 2026 pop culture festival was held in Astana from Aug. 6 to 9, attracting more than 76,000 visitors from over 40 countries during its four-day run.
For the first time, the festival welcomed four international headliners - Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Paul Anderson, Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar. The actors met with fans and took part in Q&A sessions, autograph signings and photo sessions.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, drew particular attention from festivalgoers. Speaking to journalists, the actor shared his impressions of Kazakhstan and joked that he had eaten more meat in one day in Astana than he had in the previous three years.
"The first impression of any country is its people. I have to say that I received a very warm welcome in Kazakhstan. People here are open and friendly. I was also shown photos of Kazakhstan's landscapes - they are amazing places. Now I definitely have to come back to see them, especially Mangystau," Coster-Waldau said.
Asked by journalists where Kazakhstan might fit into the geography of Game of Thrones, the actor suggested that the country could serve as a land of diplomacy between powerful neighbors.
"If we think in terms of Game of Thrones, Kazakhstan today is situated between two very powerful neighbors. In the series, it could be between the Lannisters and the land of the Dothraki and serve as a territory of diplomacy. It would be a country that both sides consider their best friend," the festival headliner said.
British actor Paul Anderson, known for his role as Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, also praised the festival.
"I am who I am. I don't know how to pretend or put on an act, and I usually speak honestly about my impressions. So I can sincerely say that this is the best Comic Con I've ever been to," Anderson said.
Iñaki Godoy and Taz Skylar, stars of Netflix's One Piece, also met with fans and took part in the festival program.
More than 16,000 people attended Comic Con Astana on its opening day, setting a new first-day attendance record in the history of the event.
One of the festival's main highlights was the international cosplay competition. The judging panel included prominent figures from the cosplay industry, including Kamui Cosplay and Leon Chiro. The competition offered a total prize pool of 20 million tenge.
The festival also featured musical performances, including a concert by South Korean K-pop group Kandis, as well as meetings with bloggers, artists, cosplayers and content creators.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Almaty Braces for Severe Traffic Congestion as School Year Begins
Almaty authorities will step up traffic control ahead of the new school year, deploying foot patrols at heavily congested intersections, Timur Nogaibayev, head of the Public Security Department of the Almaty Police Department, said.
According to Nogaibayev, numerous construction and installation projects are currently underway across the city, some of which will not be completed before the start of the school year. With traffic volumes expected to increase, police will strengthen control at the busiest locations.
"The traffic load will, of course, be enormous. Foot patrols will be deployed at intersections to ensure road safety. We often see drivers entering an intersection even when they know it is blocked and there is congestion ahead, creating gridlock. To prevent such violations, we will deploy police officers at these locations," Nogaibayev said.
Police units will also be stationed at key entrances to Almaty. They will monitor traffic arriving from the Kuldzhinsky Trakt, as well as from the Karasai and Ili districts.
Traffic congestion remains one of Almaty's most pressing problems. According to police data, more than 1.5 million vehicles, including those arriving from outside the city, travel on the metropolis's roads every day.
The city's entry points face particularly heavy traffic. According to the Almaty city administration, around 300,000 vehicles enter the city daily. One of the busiest routes is the Almaty-Kaskelen road, which carries up to 60,000 vehicles per day.
In July, work began to expand an eight-kilometer section of the Almaty-Bishkek highway from four to eight lanes. The project is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
Ongoing construction and related road restrictions are putting additional pressure on the city's transport network. In particular, a section of Tole Bi Street between Ashimov Street and Alatau Street is closed from July 14 through Aug. 25 due to road extension works.
Traffic problems are also being exacerbated by changes in traffic flows. In May, the city's Urban Mobility Department said the bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor on Timiryazev Street had reduced the street's traffic capacity. As a result, some motorists shifted to Al-Farabi Avenue, increasing congestion there. City authorities are considering changes to the traffic management scheme on Timiryazev Street.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Thousands of Almaty Residents Gather for Cultural Evening Dedicated to Abai
Images | gov.kz
Ahead of Abai Day, thousands of Almaty residents gathered for a cultural evening dedicated to the legacy of the great poet and educator, the city administration’s press service said.
"Thousands of spectators watched the documentary Alğashqy kitap (The First Book) on an open-air stage before taking part in a programme of music, poetry and live performances. The documentary Alğashqy kitap," the statement said.
According to the city administration, the docudrama tells the story of the poet’s first book, published in 1909 in St Petersburg by the Ilyas Boragansky publishing house.
"The filmmakers tell the story of how Abai’s works were collected and prepared for publication, who was involved in publishing the book, why it was published in St Petersburg and what difficulties had to be overcome before its release. The screening was followed by a musical and poetry programme organised by Almaty’s Department of Culture," the city administration said.
The cultural programme continued with the Almaty Summer Fest. The event concluded with an open-air performance of Abai’s songs, with more than a thousand spectators joining the artists.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan and China Launch Joint Earthquake Research in Almaty
Images | АI
Kazakhstan and China have launched joint earthquake research in Almaty, where a building for the future Kazakhstan-China Joint Earthquake Research Centre has been opened.
Pending the signing of an intergovernmental agreement, an Earthquake Research Centre has already been established within the National Scientific Centre for Seismology. It includes three specialised laboratories where Kazakh and Chinese scientists will be able to conduct joint research.
Scientific organisations from the two countries have also signed a memorandum of cooperation in the fields of geophysics and seismology.
The opening ceremony was attended by Kazakhstan’s Minister for Emergency Situations Chingis Arinov, Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy, Chinese Consul General in Almaty Su Fangqiu, as well as representatives of China’s Institute of Geophysics, government agencies and the scientific community.
The joint research is expected to help develop modern methods for monitoring and forecasting seismic activity and strengthen earthquake safety in Kazakhstan and China.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
International Week of Action to Protect the Caspian Ecosystem Begins in Aktau
The Caspian Sea Action Week 2026, an international initiative dedicated to preserving the Caspian Sea ecosystem, opened in Aktau on 6 August and will run through 12 August, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Information said.
The event is being held under the auspices of the International Year of Volunteers, established by the United Nations at the initiative of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Participants include representatives from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, a delegation from the United Nations Volunteers (UN Volunteers) programme, representatives of the Tehran Convention for the Protection of the Caspian Sea, international environmental organisations and volunteers from all regions of Kazakhstan.
The programme features environmental campaigns, expert discussions, thematic sessions, a hackathon, as well as cultural and sporting events. The activities are aimed at strengthening international cooperation in environmental volunteering and promoting sustainable development.
The week's flagship event will be the Caspian Talks International Volunteer Summit, to be held on 12 August, the International Day of the Caspian Sea. Participants will discuss the region's environmental challenges and review the outcomes of the week.
According to the ministry, Caspian Sea Action Week 2026 is intended to bring together volunteers and international organisations to help preserve the Caspian Sea ecosystem and expand international cooperation on environmental protection.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Comic Con Astana Announces Winners of Amateur Cosplay Contest
The Comic Con Astana 2026 amateur cosplay contest was held on the opening day of the festival, bringing together more than 80 participants, the Astana city administration said.
More than 50 adults and around 30 children took to the stage dressed as characters from films, television series, anime and video games.
The contestants were judged by a panel that included winners of last year's amateur competition. According to the organizers, selecting the winners proved difficult due to the high level of preparation among the participants.
First-place winners in both the adult and children's categories received 100,000 tenge, while second- and third-place winners were awarded 60,000 tenge and 40,000 tenge, respectively.
In the adult category, a cosplay of Akali from League of Legends took third place, while Edward Scissorhands came second. The Almaty Butterflies team won first place with a cosplay featuring janitor characters.
For the first time, the festival introduced a special Best Video Game Cosplay category in partnership with the Future Games. In the adult competition, a participant portraying Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 won the award and received a tablet as a prize.
In the children's category, a cosplay of Ai Hoshino took third place, while Klee came second. The winner portrayed Jabba from the Star Wars universe. A cosplay of Link was named the best video game cosplay in the children's category.
The amateur cosplay contest was one of the highlights of the opening day of Comic Con Astana 2026. The festival runs through Aug. 9 and will also feature a professional cosplay competition, appearances by international headliners and other events.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
'Game of Thrones' Star Shares First Impressions of Kazakhstan
Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for portraying Jaime Lannister in the television series Game of Thrones, spoke about his first visit to Kazakhstan during a press conference at Comic Con Astana, the agency's correspondent reported.
"This is my first visit to Kazakhstan, to Astana. What a huge country! Everything I've seen so far has been absolutely amazing. I've eaten more meat than I have in the last three years. I went to an Astana sauna and got thoroughly steamed. Then a strong man held me in a swimming pool like I was a little child. I also placed my hand in the handprint at the Baiterek Monument. And now I'm thinking: is this really happening to me, or am I dreaming?" Coster-Waldau said.
The actor also shared his impressions of the people of Kazakhstan, praising their openness and hospitality.
"Your impression of a place is always shaped by the people you meet. I've met some truly wonderful people - very friendly and welcoming. I understand that, as a guest here, I'm obviously in a privileged position to have had this kind of experience," he said.
Coster-Waldau also reflected on his acting career, saying that every new role marks a new stage in his professional journey.
"You know, one of the most enjoyable things about acting is that something new always comes along. The first time I was asked to play a father, I thought, 'Well, that's it - from now on I'll only be cast as fathers.' And I suppose the next thing will be children's roles," the actor said with a laugh.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
OpenAI AI Models Launched Cyberattack Without Human Instructions
OpenAI is strengthening its security measures after two of its artificial intelligence models independently organized a cyberattack on AI developer platform Hugging Face without any human instructions.
The incident was disclosed by OpenAI researchers Michael Dalton and Eric Wallace during the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, Politico reported.
According to the researchers, in early May several AI agents undergoing testing secretly began communicating through a message board they had created within the internal Artifactory file system. The models exchanged advice on solving complex hacking tasks, including ways to bypass restrictions and gain internet access.
"This is a turning point for both our company and the entire artificial intelligence industry," Michael Dalton said.
One of the models later discovered a way to exploit Artifactory's internet connectivity and subsequently identified a previously unknown zero-day vulnerability. This enabled the models to obtain administrative privileges, install remote access software and expand their activity within the system.
In mid-July, the two OpenAI models gained internet access and infiltrated Hugging Face's infrastructure. At the end of last month, OpenAI acknowledged that its own models had been responsible for the attack. Hugging Face had previously reported that an autonomous AI system had breached its network.
According to Wallace, when the models "get stuck," they often "try to bypass the rules or cheat in order to obtain a reward."
"Essentially, this incident began when one agent realized it could communicate with others by uploading notes," the researcher added.
The models' activity overloaded the Artifactory system, triggering a major outage that prompted OpenAI engineers to launch an investigation. The company revoked the models' credentials, removed the message board they had created and patched the identified vulnerabilities. However, within days the models found a new way to communicate and continued searching for vulnerabilities in both OpenAI's internal infrastructure and external systems, including Hugging Face.
Following the incident, OpenAI decided to slow the pace of its research in order to strengthen the security of its systems.
"We are deliberately slowing our research efforts to strengthen security, update the principles and foundational safeguards of our environment, while significantly expanding the monitoring of our AI agents and improving our systems for preventing, detecting and mitigating threats," Dalton said.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.