Magical fairy tales are the most widespread and beloved form of folk creativity in the thousand-year culture of the Tatars.
The hero of Tatar folk tales is a brave, resourceful, hardworking batyr-jiğit from the people. He fights many-headed dragons, cunning devils, ifrits, jinns, peris, and other “ubyrly karchyk”—and much else. He swims across deep seas, crosses dense forests, and climbs high mountains. Great persistence and the support of equally brave people from the community help the courageous hero reach his goal.