Folklore for Kids: Telaga Warna: The Indonesian Legend of the Lake of a Thousand Colors

Long, long ago, in the green hills of West Java, there stood a peaceful kingdom called Kutatanggeuhan. It was ruled by a wise and gentle king named King Suwartalaya. He loved his people dearly, and his people loved him back. But deep in his heart, the king carried a quiet sadness — for after many years of marriage to his beloved Queen Purbamanah, they still had no child to call their own.

Chapter 1: A Wish Whispered to the Sky

One evening, as the stars began to twinkle over the palace, King Suwartalaya took Queen Purbamanah's hands in his.

King Suwartalaya: "My dear Queen, we have been married for so long, yet we have never been blessed with a child. I wish to go into the forest and pray to the Almighty for guidance."

Queen Purbamanah's eyes glistened with hope as she smiled at him.

Queen Purbamanah: "Go, my King. I will stay here and pray for you every single day until you return."

And so, the king left his golden palace behind and walked deep into the forest, where he sat beneath an old banyan tree and prayed with all his heart.

Chapter 2: A Miracle Answered

Days turned into weeks as the king prayed patiently in the quiet forest. Back at the palace, something wonderful began to happen — the queen discovered she was expecting a baby! When the king returned and heard the joyful news, tears of happiness rolled down his cheeks.

King Suwartalaya: "At last! The Almighty has heard our prayers!"

The whole kingdom rejoiced. Drums were beaten, flowers were scattered through the streets, and everyone waited eagerly for nine months to pass. Finally, the day came — Queen Purbamanah gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with bright eyes and rosy cheeks.

King Suwartalaya: "We shall name her Gilang Rukmini, for she shines like gold."

People from every corner of Kutatanggeuhan came to the palace, bringing gifts and blessings for their new little princess.

Chapter 3: The Princess Grows Up

Years passed, and little Gilang Rukmini grew into a young lady of seventeen. She had grown even more beautiful than anyone could have imagined — but because her parents loved her so much and gave her everything she asked for, she had also grown quite spoiled. She was used to getting her own way, and she did not like it one bit when things did not go as she wished.

Chapter 4: The Grand Birthday Party

To celebrate Princess Gilang Rukmini's seventeenth birthday, King Suwartalaya threw the grandest party the kingdom had ever seen. Musicians played, lanterns glowed, and people from every village came bearing gifts for their princess.

But the wise king had a different plan for those gifts. Instead of keeping them, he decided to use them to help the poor and needy people of his kingdom. When Princess Gilang Rukmini found out, her face turned red with anger.

Princess Gilang Rukmini: "Father! Why did you take away my birthday gifts?! Those were meant for me!"

King Suwartalaya: "Be patient, my beloved daughter. Your father will use these gifts to help our people who are less fortunate. I promise you — I will give you something even better."

Princess Gilang Rukmini: "Better? What could possibly be better? Where is it? I want it now!"

King Suwartalaya: "Patience, my dear. Just wait a little longer, and you shall see."

Chapter 5: The Beautiful Necklace

The king wasted no time. He summoned the finest jeweler in the entire kingdom and asked him to craft the most magnificent necklace anyone had ever seen. Days went by as the jeweler worked with great care, shaping gold and gems into a necklace that shimmered with every color of the rainbow.

When it was finally finished, the king rushed to present it to his daughter.

King Suwartalaya: "Here, my beloved daughter. This necklace was made by the finest jeweler in our kingdom, using the rarest and most beautiful materials. I promised you something wonderful, and here it is."

The princess looked at the necklace... and her face twisted with disappointment.

Princess Gilang Rukmini: "What is this?! I don't like it at all!"

With a flick of her wrist, she threw the precious necklace onto the courtyard floor.

Chapter 6: The Lake Appears

Queen Purbamanah gasped and began to weep at her daughter's cruel behavior. Everyone in the palace fell silent, shocked and heartbroken. King Suwartalaya clenched his fists, holding back his sorrow as he watched his once-sweet daughter behave so selfishly.

Suddenly, something magical and strange began to happen.

Right where the necklace had fallen, a tiny spring of water bubbled up from the ground. At first, it was no bigger than a puddle. But the water kept rising... and rising... and rising, spreading across the entire courtyard until it had grown into a shimmering lake.

King Suwartalaya: "Everyone, quickly! We must build a new palace — the water will not stop!"

The people scrambled to safety as the old palace slowly sank beneath the rising water. And there, in place of the courtyard, a magnificent lake now sparkled under the sun — glowing with brilliant colors of blue, green, purple, and gold, just like the jewels of the necklace that had disappeared beneath its surface.

Chapter 7: The Legend Lives On

From that day forward, the people of Kutatanggeuhan gave the lake a special name: Telaga Warna, which means "The Lake of Colors." They say the magical colors of the lake come from the beautiful necklace that still rests at the bottom, a reminder of the day a spoiled princess learned that kindness matters more than riches.

Even today, travelers who visit Telaga Warna in West Java say that if you look closely at the water on a sunny day, you can still see hints of blue, green, and gold dancing beneath the surface — the colors of Princess Gilang Rukmini's forgotten necklace.

Give it a try! Follow Princess Gilang Rukmini's story, all the way to the creation of the beautiful Telaga Warna.

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Thursday, 29 October 2015

Telaga Warna: The Indonesian Legend of the Lake of a Thousand Colors