The holy tree “Aulieagash”

In the village of Aulieagash, about 27 kilometers from Zharkent, grows Kieli Agash, a sacred tree, which is said to be at least 700 years old. In general, the number seven is sacred for this tree. In addition to the fact that it is seven hundred years old, you will be told that it grew from seven roots, and to embrace it, seven people must hold hands.

Legends about Kieli Agash abound. According to one of them, a Muslim pilgrim once fell asleep under the withered brown tree, but when he woke up, the plant was alive and green again. There are other beliefs, such as that a spring at the roots of the tree cures diseases, that visiting the tree cures infertility, and that somehow this elm saved people from invading Genghis Khan’s troops.

A wooden path leads to the tree from the entrance archway through a small park with many other much younger trees. All of them are bent, and some seem to be leaning towards the main tree. Those who believe in these legends say that the younger trees traditionally bow to the older one.

As you approach an elm tree, you will see handkerchiefs and scraps of cloth tied to the branches as a sign of respect. At the foot of the trunk, which is sometimes wrapped in white cloth, there is a hole filled with supposedly holy water that people drink for physical and spiritual health.