Folklore for Kids: The Magic Fish of Sungai Janiah: A West Sumatran Folktale for Kids

Chapter 1: A Happy Morning

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a kind widow with her two children, a little boy and a little girl. They did not have much, but their small home was always full of love.

One bright and sunny morning, the mother smiled at her children.

Mother: "Children, today we are going to a village party! Put on your prettiest clothes, and let's go!"

Boy: "Hooray! Really, Mother?"

Girl: "I'm going to wear my favorite dress!"

The two children giggled and hurried to change. Soon they stood in front of their mother, neat and shiny and smiling from ear to ear.

Mother: "My, my, how handsome and pretty you both look!"

Chapter 2: The Party

When they arrived, the children's eyes grew wide. There were so many guests laughing and chatting, and so many tasty treats laid out on the tables. Not far away, a lively stage was filled with people watching a traditional music show.

Girl: "Mother, may we go and watch the music show over there?"

Mother: "Yes, my dear, you may. But please don't go far. The party is very crowded, and it would be hard for me to find you."

Boy: "Don't worry, Mother. We'll stay close!"

Mother: "Good children. Remember my words, now."

The two children skipped happily to the stage. They clapped and swayed to the beautiful music.

Chapter 3: The Clear, Cool Lake

But after a while, the children began to feel bored. The same songs kept playing, and the crowd felt hot and stuffy.

Boy: "Let's go for a little walk around the stage."

Girl: "Okay! But only a little walk."

Little by little, their feet carried them farther and farther away. They quite forgot their mother's gentle warning.

Soon they came upon a lake with water as clear as glass. The sun was shining hotly above them, and the cool water sparkled invitingly.

Girl: "Look at the water! It's so clear and fresh!"

Boy: "It's so hot today. Shall we take a quick dip?"

Girl: "Yes, let's!"

They took off their clothes, and splash! In they jumped. The two children laughed and played, kicking and splashing in the cool water. They were having so much fun that they forgot everything else, even their mother.

Chapter 4: A Mother's Search

Meanwhile, the party was almost over. The mother walked all the way to the stage to find her children, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Mother: "Have you seen my son and daughter? They were right here a little while ago."

Villager: "I'm sorry, we haven't seen them."

She asked one person after another, and everyone shook their heads. As the sky grew dark, the mother walked on and on, calling out their names. But there was no answer. At last, tired and heartbroken, she went home alone.

At home, she cried and cried for her children until her eyes grew heavy and she fell fast asleep.

Chapter 5: The Dream

In her dream, a kind old woman appeared before her.

Old Woman: "Do not cry any longer, dear mother. Your children are safe. They are in the clear pond near the party."

Mother: "Oh, please tell me, how can I see them again?"

Old Woman: "Take a handful of rice and throw it into the water. Then your children will appear."

When the mother woke up the next morning, she remembered every word. She took a handful of rice and hurried to the party place. She searched here and there, and at last she found the pond, as clear as glass.

Chapter 6: The Two Big Fish

The mother took a deep breath. She threw the rice into the water and called out the names of her children.

Ripple, ripple, ripple! Slowly, two big and beautiful fish rose to the surface. Their scales shimmered in lovely colors.

The mother gasped. She looked at them closely, and in her heart she knew these were her very own children.

Mother: "Oh, my darlings! What has happened to you? Why have you turned into fish?"

The fish swam in slow circles, as if they wanted to answer, but they could not speak.

Mother: "I loved you so much, my children. Why didn't you listen when I told you not to go far?"

The mother wept, and her tears fell into the water. The rice she had thrown had turned into soft porridge.

Chapter 7: The Sacred Pond

Hearing her cries, the villagers came running. When they heard the mother's story, they gathered around her and comforted her. But no words could take away her sadness.

From that day on, the village was named Sungai Janiah (some say Sungai Jernih, which means "clear river"). People came from far and wide to visit the pond, and they treated it as a sacred place.

The Lesson of the Story

This tale is only a legend, but it teaches a wise lesson: always listen to the advice of your parents. They tell us what to do because they love us and want to keep us safe.

Did You Know?

The Sungai Janiah Pond is a real tourist spot in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, about 13 kilometers from Bukittinggi on the road to Payakumbuh. The pond is home to many big fish, and some are said to be as large as a buffalo!

Play the interactive version of the legend of the Magical Fish of Sungai Janiah! Help dress two siblings for a festival, drag them to the pond, and help their mother throw magic rice to find her children again after they turned into fish. Complete with voice narration and an Indonesian/English language toggle.

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Wednesday, 5 August 2020

The Magic Fish of Sungai Janiah: A West Sumatran Folktale for Kids