SandukTales

Once upon a time there was a khan of proud nomad tribe inhabited in the vast lands of Kyrgyz. For his wise and fair rule he was loved and valued by his people, feared and respected by his enemies for his fearless batyrs[1]. The Khan made every effort to keep united countless small tribes under his rule. And for that he gained a name ruler of rulers. Obviously there were those who admired him for his accomplishments, and those who envied his high position. He indeed seemed to be a khan blessed by God. The man who equally valued legacy of ancestors as well as urge of young minds for new; who despite his rank knew how to stay humble and kind; who was also loving husband and father.  Only sometimes deep in his thoughts he could give a deep groan as if he had some sad thoughts he kept to himself. His single daughter believed it was because of her, she thought he could be happier if instead of her he was given a son. She imagined there were things he would have dreamt doing together as father and son. And she was partially but right. The ruler was highly concern about the well-being of the great tribe, and he wasn’t happy with the coming successor, his younger brother. He could foresee under his brother’s rule the tribes will be again scattered, and will be an easy prey for enemies. And he groaned that by tradition he was not allowed to choose his daughter as the successor, as he saw all the qualities for a good ruler his daughter got.  Her name was Aigul, moonflower in Kyrgyz, got every virtue one could dream for a daughter – gentle, wise and caring, thoughtful, tactful and who with the days passing by was turning into a beautiful woman. It happened so that the prayers of the khan were heard as the bravest of his batyrs and his daughter fell in love with each other.  The batyr’s name was Kozu-Ulan, whose bravery was sang in songs and whose name was accordant to the strong mountain wind as when he was on his argymak[2]he seemed to be faster than the wind. The khan couldn’t be happier, with Kozu-Ulan and Aigul his legacy was save and he was sure the tribe would strive under their rule.  So the parents and relatives cheerfully started preparations for a great wedding. But not everybody shared their joy. The khan’s brother who was hoping to  become a ruler of the great tribe  after the death of khan felt threatened by Kozu-Ulan, so he started his intrigues among the tribes and set negotiations with a neighboring Khanate. It was settled on the day of wedding despite all the agreements between neighbors the herd of horses will be stolen from one of Kyrgyz tribes to stir up a calamity and weaken the khan's power.

The day of the wedding had come. Famous akyns[3] came to ordo[4] to take part in a contest of akyns, and they were all tuning their komuzes[5]. The famous wrestlers came to test their strength. Kids were cheerfully chasing each other and some were playing chuko[6]. And amidst this joyful chaos no one even could imagine that in a blink of an eye the scene will change utterly. Khan’s men started gathering hurriedly, woman were startled with a shock, and even children stopped playing and kept their gazes fixed on adults, as they were trying to solve some riddle. Oh, how we often forget about kids! Not that there is a need to burden their gentle minds…. Only when they are old enough all the memories will be revived and only then they will understand the meaning of events. So one of the girls standing there remembered how she still sweating after the chasing game, smelling the fried dough without even having a chance to taste them, saw all the elderly men with worrisome and sometimes decisive looks entering the yurt of khan. Women whispering with each other, preparing hot teas for men, and some elderly women praying Tengri[7]and Umai-ene [8] to keep them all safe. Not long after that men hurriedly went out of the yurt, the batyrs gathered and they all went off somewhere after saying good-byes to their families and loved ones. Her father went together with them too…And she never saw his father again.  And Aigul never saw her Kozu-Ulan again, the proud nomad tribe was saved from the invaders, the lives of women and children were saved, but not her hope for happiness, not her heart’s safe anchor. His fellow friend brought batyr back on his horse, so they can bury him on top of the mountain with a great honor. Aigul kept herself strong and calm, as if she already knew that everything is going to be alright, that love never dies, that they will be always together….

Since then many years have passed in place of one khans came others, some were fairer than others, some more ferocious, but all are now in ashes….only the mountain where Kozu-Ulan was buried is still standing there as magnificent as before facing the other mountain, adorned with silky orange flowers named by people as aigul, which is a true nature’s wonder. It takes seven years to develop shoots and then another seven years to develop its first blossom of petals. Every year after that one more flower can blossom at the full moon. The big drops of dew inside the flower's bell are believed to be Aigul’s tears. People say this is how the two loving souls got united: the two mountains strong and beautiful stand there side by side attracting people by their sad but beautiful romantic story.  Aigul knew indeed, the true love never dies….it lives in people’s hearts and passes by as legends.

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