Folklore for Kids: Legend of Situ Bagendit: Indonesian Folktale for Kids

Situ Bagendit is a folktale from Indonesia. Once upon a time, in a village in Garut, West Java, there lived a wealthy widow named Nyi Endit.

Chapter 1: The Rich Widow of Garut

Nyi Endit had so much money that she could buy anything she wanted. Her house was big and grand, and her storerooms were full of treasure.

But many people in the village were very poor. When they had nothing left to eat, they came to Nyi Endit's house to borrow money.

Villager: "Please, Nyi Endit, may we borrow a little money? Our children are hungry."

Nyi Endit: "Of course, you may borrow it. But you must pay it back with very high interest. Do you understand?"

Villager: "Yes, Nyi Endit. We will try our best to pay it back."

The poor villagers had no other choice, so they agreed.

When the day to pay the debt arrived, Nyi Endit did not go to collect the money alone. She brought her strong, scary guards with her.

Nyi Endit: "Where is my money? Today is the day you must pay!"

Villager: "Please, Nyi Endit, please give us a little more time..."

Nyi Endit: "No more waiting! Guards, teach him a lesson!"

The guards were rough and unkind to anyone who could not pay on time. The villagers were very frightened, and they whispered to one another about the greedy widow.

Chapter 2: Full Barns and Empty Bowls

When harvest time came, Nyi Endit's rice fields always gave more rice than anyone else's. Her barns were stuffed full of food, enough to last through even the longest famine.

But the poor villagers were not so lucky. When the dry season came, the fields turned dry and cracked, and the farmers had almost nothing to eat. Many of them became thin and weak.

Little Boy: "Mother, my tummy hurts. I am so hungry."

Mother: "Be patient, my child. We will find something to eat, I promise."

Meanwhile, Nyi Endit lived a very different life. She laughed, feasted, and threw parties at her house almost every day, while the villagers went hungry.

Villager: "She has so much food, but she never shares even a little."

Old Farmer: "Yes, she only lends money and asks for more in return. She is nothing but a moneylender."

That is why the people of the village gave her a nickname: the Moneylender.

Chapter 3: The Beggar at the Party

One day, a terrible famine struck the village. But Nyi Endit was not worried at all. She held yet another big party, with delicious food and cheerful guests.

In the middle of the party, one of her bodyguards hurried into the room.

Bodyguard: "Excuse me, Nyi Endit. There is a beggar outside. He is forcing his way in. I think he wants to ask for food."

Nyi Endit: "Send that beggar away! Do not let him into my house!"

But before the bodyguard could move, the beggar walked right into the party.

Beggar: "Nyi Endit, you are greedy and unkind. We are starving because of the drought. Please, give us a little food."

Nyi Endit's face turned red with anger.

Nyi Endit: "How dare you enter my house without permission! A poor person like you should not speak to me like that. Guards, throw him out, quickly!"

The guards rushed forward and grabbed the beggar. But something surprising happened. With just one gentle blow, the beggar made all of the guards fall to the floor!

The guests gasped and stared in wonder.

Guest: "Did you see that? He is no ordinary beggar!"

Chapter 4: The Magic Stick

The beggar stood tall and looked at Nyi Endit.

Beggar: "Nyi Endit, you refuse to share your wealth with poor people like me. So now I will show you something."

He picked up a small tree branch and pushed it into the ground.

Beggar: "If you can pull this stick out, then you are a truly good person. And if you cannot do it yourself, you may ask your guards to try for you."

Nyi Endit laughed loudly.

Nyi Endit: "Ha! What a silly game. Guards, pull out that tiny stick!"

The guards took hold of the stick. They pulled and pulled with all their strength. But the stick, which looked so thin and weak, would not move at all. Not even one bit!

Bodyguard: "It is stuck, Nyi Endit! We cannot pull it out!"

Beggar: "Your guards could not do it. Now watch me."

The beggar gently held the stick and pulled. The stick slid out of the ground very easily. And then, whoosh! Clear water began to gush out of the hole. Then, in the blink of an eye, the beggar vanished. No one knew where he had gone.

Chapter 5: The Great Flood

Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The earth trembled, and the house rattled and creaked.

Guest: "An earthquake! Run! Everybody run!"

Nyi Endit: "Wait, my treasure! My beautiful house!"

Nyi Endit and her guests ran outside as fast as their legs could carry them. Then the sky grew dark, and heavy rain poured down. The water from the hole rose higher and higher, and it spread across the land.

In just a moment, Nyi Endit's grand house was swallowed up by the flood, and it disappeared beneath the water.

Chapter 6: The Birth of Situ Bagendit

When the rain finally stopped, the village where Nyi Endit's house once stood had turned into a big, calm lake.

Villager: "Look! Our village has become a lake!"

Old Farmer: "Let us call it Lake Bagendit, so we will always remember this story."

And so the lake became known as Situ Bagendit.

Some people say that a big leech lives in the lake, and that it is Nyi Endit herself. It is a reminder that being greedy and unkind to others brings sad endings.

The moral of the story: Be kind and generous to others, and share what you have with people in need.

Experience the legend of Situ Bagendit as an interactive story! Knock on the door, pull the wooden stick, and race to escape the legendary flood — complete with voice narration and a choice between Indonesian and English.

More folklore on West Java:

Pages

Friday, 30 October 2015

Legend of Situ Bagendit: Indonesian Folktale for Kids