The enthusiasts who cherish the traditions of the Lazdijai region made sure that the unique tradition of ploughing with horses, which has deep roots in the Lazdijai region, was included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage values. By nurturing this tradition and developing projects, it will now be possible to receive some financial support.

Eleven new traditions and activities of communities have been added to the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the spring. Among them is the tradition of ploughing with horses in Lazdijai region. The inventory includes traditional activities practiced both in Lithuania and in small local communities.

The new additions to the Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will be presented on 28 March at a vent event at Vilnius City Hall.

„Dzūkų žinios“ has repeatedly reported on the efforts of the Deputy Director of the Lazdijai Culture Centre, Ingrida Neverdauskienė, in preparing the necessary documents for the inclusion of the tradition of ploughing with horses in the Lazdijai district in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage Values.

Ingrida's initiative last autumn, an autumn ploughing with horses was held in Pakirsniai. The idea of Algimantas Antanas Macionis to organise an autumn gathering of ploughmen ploughing with horses was supported by about three dozen ploughmen who were brought together by Mantas Sujeta.

According to I. Neverdauskienė, the aim of the event was to preserve and promote the tradition of ploughing with horses so that it would continue to exist, so that it would become a distinctive sign of the Lazdijai region, and to prepare the necessary visual material for the event so that the activity would be included in the aforementioned inventory.

Lazdijai is famous for the "First furrow" competition, where ploughmen compete for the title of the winner, and the ploughing talka was a cosy, non-competitive gathering of ploughmen, where a field is ploughed and then sown with rye.

There are ploughmen in Lazdijai who have inherited the secrets of ploughing with horses from their grandparents and parents and have passed them on to their children and grandchildren.

„We want to preserve the living experience, organise education, protect our self-esteem. If the ši tradition is included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, we will have to draw up an action plan for five years and to develop the ši tradition in every possible way," Neverdauskienė said last autumn.

Her dreams have come true, ploughing with horses has found a place in the list of intangible cultural heritage values, so the tradition will be further fostered in our country and we should see new, meaningful events.