On the sunny nineteenth of September, the traditional, already 18th, Vaižgantinės Festival took place in the birthplace of Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas. During the celebration, two awards were traditionally presented: the Republican Literary Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas Prize and the Vaižgantas Small Prize "For Merits to the Land of Svėdas".
The host of the event, Laimutis Sėdžius, invited the 2003 Republican Vaižgantas Literary Prize laureate, writer Rimantas Povilas Vanagas, to open the celebration. He read his poems, written especially for this celebration – Vaižgantinae. Speaking like a prayer, RP Vanagas began his verses with the words:
„"Priest Vaižgantai,
Hear us and grant
The grace of the Vaižgantins –
Malay flax seed,
So would its flower be bright,
To give birth to the sight of the blue sky
To our neighbor, to each other.“
Jurgita Bugailiškienė, director of the Anykščiai L. and S. Didžiuliai Public Library, welcomed the guests who had gathered in Malaišiai. She was pleased that Vaižgantas was immortalized in the sky yesterday - an asteroid discovered by Vilnius University astronomer Kazimieras Černys was named after him.
The Mayor of Anykščiai District Municipality, Kęstutis Tubis, was pleased that the Vaižgantas Prize was being presented in the Anykščiai region, in Malaišiai, and invited guests to visit the renovated ethno-architectural homestead.
The 25th Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas Prize is awarded to poet, essayist, translator, and laureate of the National Culture and Art Prize Vladas Braziūnas for the Vaižgantas ideas and values fostered in the book "Time is Near: Philotopic Fragments" (publisher "Slinktys", 2025), his ability to connect artistic expression with the realities of ethnic culture, his love for his native land and its people, and his attentiveness to language and contemporary events.
The award was presented to V. Braziūnas by Vitalija Maksvytė, Deputy Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Writers' Union, Audrys Antanaitis, Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Journalists' Union and the National Association of Journalists and Creators, and Kęstutis Tubis, Mayor of Anykščiai District Municipality.
V. Braziūnas shared that while writing the book for which he received the prize, there were days when thoughts filled his head. Then he remembered Vaižgantas' words "Keep your sobriety like a drunken fence"! After reflecting on the famous saying, the laureate decided to throw fear aside and write as his hand is able to write. "Thank you for the lesson Vaižgantas, keep yourself like a fence" - V. Braziūnas cheerfully concluded his speech.
The second Vaižgantinės Prize „For Merit to the Svėdasai Region“ was awarded to Raimondas Guobis from Svėdasai. The elder of the Svėdasai eldership, Saulius Rasalas, introducing the laureate, said: „This is a creator, through whose efforts the past here gains a living body, and the community maintains a strong connection with its roots.“ The prize was awarded to the local historian, museum curator, and writer R. Guobis for his unique literary and local history yearbook, for perpetuating the memory of the Svėdasai and Anykščiai regions in local history monographs and reviews, and for perpetuating his native land in drawings and photographs.
R. Guobis began his speech with a cheerful joke: "Vaižgantas appeared when no one expected it. Guobis also received the award when no one expected it anymore." S. Rasalas presented flowers to R. Guobis' mother, Irena Guobiene, who was the first laureate of this, the Small Vaižgantas Award.
The event participants were delighted with their music by Agota Zdanevičiūtė, who performed songs based on the verses of Vladas Braziūnas and played the kankles. The celebration was full of smiles, sincere greetings and cozy conversations. The event participants admired the autumn landscapes of the Malaišiai area, visited the 2025 Vaižgantinės photo exhibition, talked with literary creators and locals, feasted on the rifle porridge of the Anykščiai S. Darius and S. Girėnas 901 Rifle Company, and warmed themselves by the bonfire provided by the Svėdasai eldership.
Event organizers: Anykščiai District Municipality Liudvika and Stanislovas Didžiuliai Public Library.
Partners: Anykščiai District Municipality, Lithuanian Writers' Union, Lithuanian Journalists' Union, National Association of Journalists, Association Vaižgantas Region Community; Svėdasų Eldership; Anykščiai S. Darius and S. Girėnas 901st Rifle Company; Public Institution "Atvertos Langinės"„
Sponsor: Anykščiai District Municipality.
Information sponsor: "Anykšta"„
