VIYAN CIZÎR

News Center- The Kurdish history has unfortunately remained unwritten due to centuries of oppression and assimilation policies. All experiences, resistances, rebellions and betrayals in Kurdish history have passed down to the next generations by dengbêj (Kurdish storytellers). We want to tell you the story of “Heyran Jaro”, a Kurdish song sung and listened by the Kurds for years.

 When you listen to “Heyran Jaro” song, you feel like you are with Gozelxan and sharing her pain. The story of Heyran Jaro can be adapted for the screen because it tells the Kurdish history full of pain, joy, heroism and betrayal that must not be forgotten. I made researches about this story and I want to share this story with you.

Şevbihêrk nights

Heyran Jaro lived in the district of Cizîrê (Cizre), Botan region of Northern Kurdistan. As is known, Şevbihêrk nights were organized in the villages in the past. On Şevbihêrk nights, villagers used to gather in a house in order to get to know each other better, become friends and have fun. 

Brahîm, also known as Heyran, is one of those who attended these nights. Fatim, also known as Gozelxan, is the leading actor of this story. Heyran and Gozelxan are from tribes and they use different names so that no one will recognize them. Gozelxan is from the village of Gîveroj Şikêr, just behind the village of Şerefiyê while Heyran is from Mendî Kera, a village of Şirnex (Şırnak).

They learn their names

The villages of Gozelxan and Heyran are close to each other. One day, Heyran goes to the village of Gozelxan to visit his relatives. On Şevbihêrk nights, villagers come together in the autumn season, singing songs, eating dinner together. Gozelxan and Heyran meet each other during one of these nights. Gozelxan is four years older than Heyran. On that night, the lights are turned off for five minutes and people who are in love with each other talk to each other and ask their names. On that night, Gozelxan and Heyran ask each other's names, determine a date, and place to meet again.

Betrayal

Girls in the villages go to the mountains to collect herbs. Heyran also goes to the mountains to see Gozelxan. They secretly see each other for years. As years pass, Gozelxan begins to love Heyran more and more; however, she faces the betrayal of Heyran after seven years. Heyran betrays Gozelxan after seven years and marries another girl. Being hurt by this betrayal, Gozelxan expresses her pain in “Heyran Jaro” song. Heyran Jaro was first sung by Gozelxan and now is sung by many in the region.

The link of the “Heyran Jaro” song is: youtu.be/eir3dhNWIHg