Kazakh Day of Love – Kozy Korpesh & Bayan Sulu

The 15th of April is the Day of Love in Kazakhstan, named Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu Day. We tell you all about this day and the love story of Kozy Korpesh & Bayan Sulu.

In Kazakhstan, 15th of April is celebrated as a special day dedicated to love – the Kozy Korpesh & Bayan Sulu Day. This day is not just about romance, but also about honoring one of the most powerful and tragic love stories in Kazakh culture. At the heart of the celebration lies the epic poem “Kozy Korpesh & Bayan Sulu,” a symbol of eternal love and emotional devotion.

The story begins with two close friends, Sarybai and Karabai, who make a heartfelt promise: if they each have a child, they will arrange their children’s marriage to strengthen their friendship. Tragically, Sarybai dies before he can meet his newborn son, Kozy. Around the same time, Karabai becomes the father of a daughter named Bayan.

Although Kozy and Bayan grow up apart and have never seen each other, they fall deeply in love. Years later, Kozy travels to Bayan’s village to finally unite with her. However, Karabai, being stingy and dismissive, refuses to give his daughter to an orphan boy. Instead, he chooses Kodar, a local wrestler, to be Bayan’s husband.

Kodar, jealous and determined, murders Kozy to eliminate his rival. Stricken by grief, Bayan devises a plan for revenge. She pretends to agree to marry Kodar, but only if he brings her water from a well, using her long hair as a rope. As Kodar descends, Bayan cuts off her hair, causing him to fall into the well and die. In a final act of love and sorrow, Bayan visits Kozy’s grave and ends her life with a dagger.

This tragic and poetic tale, believed to originate in the 13th -14th centuries and written down in the 19th century, is a lasting symbol of true and selfless love. The Mausoleum of Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu, built in the 10th – 11th centuries, still stands in the Ayagoz district of East Kazakhstan, serving as a national monument to their devotion.

Kazakh literature is rich with romantic stories, many of which, like Kozy and Bayan’s, are rooted in epic poetry and oral tradition. Among them are:

• Kyz Zhibek (Kyz Zhibek and Tolegen) – a famous love story that also ends in tragedy.

• Enlik-Kebek – a poetic tale of doomed lovers.

• Aisha Bibi and Karakhan – a tragic legend of the forbidden marriage between young girl with Khan (king).

• Dudar-ai – a heartfelt love song about the feelings between a Russian girl and Kazakh guy.

While many of these stories are marked by sorrow, there are also tales in Kazakh folklore where love triumphs and couples find happiness, reflecting the full range of human emotions and relationships.

Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu Day is more than a day for couples – it’s a celebration of Kazakh culture, poetry, and the power of love that transcends time. It reminds us of the sacrifices people make for love and the deep emotional bonds that define human experience.

We wish you a lovely day. May your love be strong, sincere, and everlasting. 

Happy Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu Day!