Myths and legends of Kyrgyzstan
Aigul
Batken village Karabulak in the south of Kyrgyzstan has become very famous
in the past few years to all people .These hills, according to the words
of local people, are witnesses of pure and faithful love of two hearts.
One amazing flower blooms there every spring and the local people usually
tell a legend about it.
Once upon a time there was a rich man. He had a daughter Aigul by name
with a face like a moon. She fell in love with a fearless warrior Kozu Ulan.
But they didn`t play their wedding. Ulan perished and his heart was brought
to his village. Aigul coudln`t bear this grief, met with her female friends,
climbed on a top of the hill then jumped into the abyss. There was some
stones, colored with Aigul blood and some beautiful flowers very soon appeared
after this. Since that case these flowers are called Aigul flower and the
rock - Aigultash.
It is told, that Aigul flower can be taken for ordinary lily flower or
tulip, but it is not like this. There are some big drops of dew inside of
the flower. The local people tell that they are Aigul`s tears. A rock which
is opposite, has the name Ulan Kozu. Ulan and in the translation from kyrgyz
language means “a dash of a wind”.
Kozu Ulan was famous with his fearlessness and as a protector of his motherland.
He loved Aigul but his soldierly duty he put before his love. The happy
parents had already prepared for the wedding but during a battle Ulan died
with his reluctance to be captured. His heart was buried nearby Aigultash
rock.
Thereby two souls of amorous people were united. Since that time people
usually come to the place to look at the unique flower. The fabulous flower,
fearless warrior and his girl friend Aigul are entrancing people with their
beauty, patriotism and devotion.
Gul flower is a miracle Batken flower and it`s scientific name is “ryabchik-eduardo”.
It is usually grows on the sun side of the mountains. It is the flower with
a height 1 meter, long green leaves along all stalk .It`s red-yellow petals
look like campanula. Aigul flower usually come out in April, that is why
there is a special holiday in this area called as Flower holiday. The shoots
appear only after 7 years and the first flower appears after next 7 years
else in full moon! Then every year one vivid orange flower appears, that
is why looking at Aigul flower, its easy to count its years. It is said that
people met flowers 34 years old. It is also a big luck to watch how Aigul
flower comes out.
The specialist specify that Aigul flower is endemic, which means it grows
only in certain Batken area and nowhere anymore. It is bulbaceous plant
begins to blow and gives offsprings after 7 years. It grows on the Turkestan
chain, very unique, rare and under a status of the guard, decorative and
beautiful. The biggest advantage of it is in vivid beauty of it`s flowers.
Also it is used in a oriental medicine – the unions are used for the treatment
of stomach system and liver. It is in the Red Book .The area, where it
grows, is used to be visited by many tourists and flowers were sold without
control. Now it is under the guard of local government and it is forbidden
to pick up these flowers and also to graze any animals in that area. There
is a penalty for braking the rules - 1000 soms ($ 25).
Kyrgyzstan travel