Who Choktar may have resembled
Choktar's birthplace, the river ILET'
An old Mari folk tale goes like this:
Born to a hunter who lived on the shore of the river Ilet' was a lad named Choktar. He did not grow by the day, but by the hour. Five years after birth he became a Hero warrior. One on one he fought bears, knocked down pine trees with a single swat and tore mighty oaks out of the ground, roots and all.
In those days barbarians of the steppe often tried to invade Mari-El. Choktar was an impenetrable wall that protected his native land and its people.
Many years and heroic battles came to pass. When the great defender’s death was near, he called upon the Mari people to hear his last words:
Do not be sad my dear people. Bury me on the high shore of the river Ilet'. Should a future enemy bring you close to defeat, summon me, and I will rise to defend the Motherland. But remember, I will awaken once, and once only.
The people believed Choktar’s final testament and for generations did not dare to tread on his remains. Amongst them emerged a fool, a village idiot who went to Choktar's river burial mound and screamed:
“Come out Choktar, an enemy threatens us with destruction!”
And so Choktar awoke…
“Where is the enemy?” he asked, with still sleepy eyes.
“There is no one. I just wanted to find out if your legend was true or not.”
“What a foolish boy you are.” said Choktar with profound sadness and returned to his grave for eternity.
Dark times soon fell upon the Mari people. Enemies attacked from all directions. No matter how many times they called Choktar for help, he did not rise.
So ends a sad tale from long ago.
