Today, I will narrate you a story about The Rhododendron and The Alder Tree. First and foremost, you must know what those trees are!
A Rhododendron tree (specifically the Tree Rhododendron) is a type of plant that blooms around The Spring Season. It is called as ‘लालीगुराँस’ (lali guras) in Nepali and is found in Hilly Regions, where the altitude is very high. However, it only grows on hilltops, i.e. on plain lands on the Hills. It never grows on steep hill faces. When it blooms, it produces a vibrant red flower which is very pretty…kind of like Sakura blossoms…but of Nepal.
On the other hand, an alder tree (specifically the Nepalese Alder) is a type of deciduous tree which has a silver-grey bark which is actually very boring in features. It is found on steep hillsides on high altitudes. The Nepalese alder grows very fast and its wood is suitable for firewood. The Nepalese Alder is called ‘उत्तिस’ (uttis) in Nepali.
This story was narrated to me orally by my Aunt, although I remember the bulk of it, I have forgotten the subtle details. So, this story is written entirely through my memory!
TimroNepali has provided an audio version of the story. Many thanks! 🙂 Link here.
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STORY
यो कुरा धेरै बर्षअगाडि को कुरा हो । त्यो कालमा रुखहरु विवाह गर्थे । यो विवाहमा धेरै किसिमका रुखहरु भाग लिन्थे ।
एक हिउँदो ऋतुको दिनमा लालीगुराँसले उत्तिसको रुखलाई विवाह गर्ने निम्तो दियो । उत्तिसले लालीगुराँसलाई हेर्यो र घमण्डले भयो “तिमी कति कुरुप छ्यौ , तिम्रो हाँगामा फूल हरु पनि छैन, तिमी सुन्दर नै छइनौ । तिमीलाई म विवाह गर्न सक्दिन ।”
“उत्तिस, मेरो यो निम्तोलाई स्विकार गरीदेऊ न । म मेरो हात जोड्छु, मलाई विवाह गर न ।”
तर यो कुरा सुनेर पनि उत्तिसले विवाह नगर्ने निर्णय गरिसकेको थियो । लालीगुराँस उदास भएर घर फर्क्यो ।
हिउँदो महीना समाप्त भयो । बसन्त ऋतु शुरु भयो । हिउँदोले गर्दा कक्रिएका बोटबिरुवाहरु घामको तापले फेरी फुल्न थाले । एता-उता सबै तिर फूलहरु फुल्न थाले ।
यस्तै गरी गुराँस, जो चै हिउँदोमा सुकेर कुरुप भएकी थिई, बसन्त ऋतुले गर्दा ऊ पनि फुल्न थाल्यो । फूल फुलिसकेपछि ऊ धेरै सुन्दर र राम्री भई । उसको हाँगामा रातो फूलहरु टप्प सजाएको थियो । लालीगुराँस साच्ची नै रम्री भई!
यो परिवर्तन देखेर उत्तिस मोहित भयो । उत्तिसलाई लालीगुराँससँग प्रेम भयो । उत्तिसले भन्यो “लालीगुराँस, तिमी कस्ती सुन्दरी भएछ्यौ, यो देखेर म मोहित भए । मसँग विवाह गर्छ्यौ ?“
तर लालीगुराँस मानिन । लालीगुराँसले भन्यो “उत्तिस, मैले विवाह गर्ने निम्तो दिदा तिमीले मलाई विवाह नगर्ने निर्णय गर्यौ, म उदास भए । अहिले धेरै ढिलो भइसक्यो । म तिमीसँग विवाह गर्न इच्छा छैन त्यसैले म तिमीसँग विवाह गर्दिन ।”
यो सुनेर उत्तिस धेरै उदास र निराश भयो । उत्तिस त्यही डाँडाको भीरबाट हाम फालेर आत्मघात गर्यो ।
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त्यसैले लाली गुराँस डाँडाको टुप्पमा हुन्छ र उत्तिस भीरमा हुन्छ । उत्तिस लाजले कहिल्यै टुप्पमा आउँदैन.. त्यसैले ऊ भीरमा मात्रै बस्ने प्रयास गर्छ र त्यही हुर्किन्छ र त्यही मर्छ ।
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TRANSLATION
यो कुरा धेरै बर्षअगाडि को कुरा हो । (yo kura dherai barsha agadi ko kura ho)
= This story is a story from many years back.
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त्यो कालमा रुखहरु विवाह गर्थे । यो विवाहमा धेरै किसिमका रुखहरु भाग लिन्थे । (tyo kaal ma rukh haru bibah garthe. yo bibaha ma dherai kisim ka rukh haru bhag linthe)
= Trees used to marry in those days. Many types of trees used to participate on these weddings.
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एक हिउँदो ऋतुको दिनमा लालीगुराँसले उत्तिसको रुखलाई विवाह गर्ने निम्तो दियो । (ek hiudo ritu ko din ma laliguras le uttis ko rukh lai bibah garne nimto diyo)
= One Winter day, a Rhododendron tree proposed an Alder tree to marry.
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उत्तिसले लालीगुराँसलाई हेर्यो र घमण्डले भन्यो “तिमी कति कुरुप छ्यौ , तिम्रो हाँगामा फूलहरु पनि छैन, तिमी सुन्दर नै छइनौ । तिमीलाई म विवाह गर्न सक्दिन ।” (uttis le laliguras lai heryo ra ghamanda le bhanyo “timi kati kurup chyau, timro haga ma phul haru pani chaina, timi sundar nai chainau. timi lai ma bibaha garna sakdina)
= The Alder Tree glanced at The Rhododendron Tree and said with arrogance “You are so ugly, your branches have no flowers, you’re not beautiful at all. I cannot marry you.”
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“उत्तिस, मेरो यो निम्तोलाई स्विकार गरीदेऊ न । म मेरो हात जोड्छु, मलाई विवाह गर न ।” (uttis, mero yo nimto lai swikar gari deu na. ma mero haat jodchu, ma lai bibaha gara na)
= “Uttis, please accept my proposal. I join my hands, please marry me.”
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तर यो कुरा सुनेर पनि उत्तिसले विवाह नगर्ने निर्णय गरिसकेको थियो । लालीगुराँस उदास भएर घर फर्क्यो । (tara yo kura sunera pani uttis le bibah nagarne nirnaya garisakeko thiyo. laliguras udaas bhaera ghar pharkyo)
= Even after listening to her plea, Alder was firm on his decision on not marrying Rhododendron. Rhododendron returned home, sad.
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हिउँदो महीना समाप्त भयो । बसन्त ऋतु शुरु भयो । (hiudo mahina samaapta bhayo. basanta ritu suru bhayo)
= Winter Season ended. Spring Season started.
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हिउँदोले गर्दा कक्रिएका बोटबिरुवाहरु घामको तापले फेरी फुल्न थाले । एता-उता सबैतिर फूलहरु फुल्न थाले । (hiudo le garda kakrieka botbiruwa haru ghaam ko taap le pheri phulna thaale. eta-uta sabai tira phul haru phulna thaale)
= The plants which shriveled up due to the winter started to blossom again by the sun’s rays. The blossoms started to bloom here-there, everywhere.
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यस्तै गरी गुराँस, जो चै हिउँदोमा सुकेर कुरुप भएकी थिई, बसन्त ऋतुले गर्दा ऊ पनि फुल्न थाल्यो । (yastai gari guras, jo chai hiudo ma sukera kurup bhaeki thi’i, basanta ritu le garda u pani phulna thaalyo)
= Similarly, Rhododendron too – who had turned ugly due to the winter cold – started to bloom due to the Spring.
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फूल फुलिसकेपछि ऊ धेरै सुन्दर र राम्री भई । उसको हाँगामा रातो फूलहरु टप्प सजाएको थियो । (phul phulisake pachi u dherai sundar ra ramri bhai. usko haga ma rato phul haru tappa sajaeko thiyo)
= After the flowers bloomed, she became very beautiful and charming. Red flowers were decorated on her branches very beautifully.
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लालीगुराँस साच्ची नै राम्री भई! (laliguras sacchi nai raamri bhai!)
= Rhododendron truly became beautiful!
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यो परिवर्तन देखेर उत्तिस मोहित भयो । उत्तिसलाई लालीगुराँससँग प्रेम भयो । (yo pariwartan dekhera uttis mohit bhayo. uttis lai laliguras sanga prem bhayo)
= By seeing this transformation, Alder became enchanted (by her beauty). Alder fell in love with Rhododendron.
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उत्तिसले भन्यो “लालीगुराँस, तिमी कस्ती सुन्दरी भएछ्यौ, यो देखेर म मोहित भए । मसँग विवाह गर्छ्यौ ?“ (uttis le bhanyo laliguras, timi kasto sundari bhaechyau, yo dekhera ma mohit bhae. ma sanga bibaha garchyau?)
= Alder said “Rhododendron, you have become so beautiful, by seeing this I am mesmerized. Will you marry me?”
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तर लालीगुराँस मानिन । (tara laliguras manina)
= But Rhododendron refused (to agree).
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लालीगुराँसले भन्यो “उत्तिस, मैले विवाह गर्ने निम्तो दिदा तिमीले मलाई विवाह नगर्ने निर्णय गर्यौ, म उदास भए । अहिले धेरै ढिलो भइसक्यो । म तिमीसँग विवाह गर्न इच्छा छैन त्यसैले म तिमीसँग विवाह गर्दिन ।” (lali guras le bhanyo “uttis, maile bibah garne nimto dida timi le ma lai bibaha nagarne nirnaya garyau, ma udas bhae. ahile dherai dhilo bhaisakyo. ma timi sanga bibaha garna ichchha chaina tyasaile ma timi sanga bibah gardina)
= Rhododendron said “Alder, when I asked you to marry me, you gave a decision to not marry me, I became sad. It is too late now. I don’t have the desire to marry you anymore therefore I won’t marry you.”
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यो सुनेर उत्तिस धेरै उदास र निराश भयो । (yo sunera uttis dherai udaas ra niraas bhayo)
= Hearing this, Alder became very sad and disappointed.
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उत्तिस त्यही डाँडाको भीरबाट हाम फालेर आत्मघात गर्यो । (uttis tyahi dada ko bhir baata haam phalera aatmaghaat garyo)
= From the same hill’s cliff, Alder jumped off and committed suicide.
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त्यसैले लालीगुराँस डाँडाको टुप्पमा हुन्छ र उत्तिस भीरमा हुन्छ । (tyasaile laliguras dada ko tuppa ma huncha ra uttis bhir ma huncha)
= That’s why Rhododendrons are found on the top of the hills whereas Alders are found on the cliff faces.
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उत्तिस लाजले कहिल्यै टुप्पमा आउँदैन.. त्यसैले ऊ भीरमा मात्रै बस्ने प्रयास गर्छ र त्यही हुर्किन्छ, त्यही मर्छ । (uttis laaj le kahilyai tuppa ma aaudaina…tyasaile u bhira ma matrai basne prayaas garcha ra tyahi hurkincha, tyahi marcha)
= Alder never grows on top again due to embarrassment…that’s why he stays only on Cliffs and steep hill-faces and hence he grows up there and dies there (without ever going up where Rhododendron is).
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VOCABULARY
बर्ष (barsha) = Year
काल (kaal) = (here) Time
विवाह (bibah) = Wedding
किसिम (kisim) = Type
हिउँदो ऋतु (hiudo ritu) = Winter Season
निम्तो (nimto) = Invitation; Proposal
घमण्ड (ghamanda) = Arrogance
कुरुप (kurup) = Ugly
हाँगा (haga) = Tree Branch
सुन्दर (sundar) = Beautiful
स्विकार (swikar) = Accept
निर्णय (nirnaya) = Decision
उदास (udaas) = Sad; Disappointed
समाप्त (samaapta) = End
बसन्त ऋतु (basanta ritu) = Spring Season
शुरु (suru) = Strat
बोटबिरुवा (botbiruwa) = Plants
ताप (taap) = Heat
परिवर्तन (pariwartan) = Change; Transformation
मोहित (mohit) = Enchanted; Fascinated
प्रेम (prem) = Love
इच्छा (ichchha) = Desire
निराश (nirash) = Disappointed
डाँडा (dada) = Hill
भीर (bhir) = Cliff
आत्मघात (aatmaghaat) = Suicide
लाज (laaj) = Embarrassment
प्रयास (prayas) = Effort
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That is the story of the Alder tree and the Rhododendron! Did you like it? Do send feedback!
QUESTIONS
1. Why had the Alder Tree initially refused to marry The Rhododendron Tree? What season was it when Rhododendron proposed? Does that explain why Alder had refused to marry her?
2. What is the reason, according to the folk tale, for Alders to never grow on hilltops? What grows there instead?
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ANSWERS (for illustrative purposes only)
1. The Alder tree had initially refused to marry the Rhododendron because she wasn’t pretty enough. The season was ‘Winter Season’, a time when flowers don’t bloom. Yes, it explains because Rhododendron without her flowers did not look pretty; she was ugly during that season.
2. Alders don’t grow on hilltops because of embarrassment for refusing and underestimating Rhododendron. It doesn’t go there because he has to meet Rhododendron on hilltops. Rhododendron grows there instead.