11 Folklores from Bengkulu

Credit: Tropenmuseum, Creative Common, wikimedia

The following is a collection of Indonesian folklore, folktales, fairy tales, and legends in the midst of the people of Bengkulu Province.

Bengkulu Province is located in the southwestern part of the island of Sumatra, bordered by the Provinces of Jambi, South Sumatra, Lampung and West Sumatra.

Stories are collected from various sources. If there is a new story, it will be added soon. Hope it will be useful.

11. The Legend of the Seven Headed Snake

The legend of the Serpent Head of Seven is Bengkulu's folklore, precisely in the Regency of Lebong. Tells the adventures of Gajah Merik, the youngest son of King Bikau Bermano defeats the Chief of Seven Lake Snake watchman. The snake is believed by the Lebong community as the watchman of Lake Tes. The nest is in Teluk Lem until under Pondok Lucuk. Therefore, if people cross the lake in Tes by boat, they do not dare to say carelessly.

10. Keramat Riak

Keramat Riak is a Bengkulu folklore. In Bengkulu Province there is an area called Keramat Riak. In the past, the area was inhabited by a group of people led by a cruel king named Riak Bakau. Raja Riak Bakau will not hesitate to punish anyone who dares to oppose it. Until one day, there was an event that made Keramat Riak turned into a dense forest and the entire population was transformed into apes.

9. The Origin of Pagar Dewa

The Origin of Pagar Dewa is Bengkulu's folklore. Once upon a time, long ago in Bengkulu, there was a lake. Bengkulu people at that time called it by the name of a lake of Gods, because they believed that the lake was a place to cleanse the gods of heaven during the full moon. People do not dare to approach the lake of God because they believe that the lake of God is a sacred place.

8. The True Mother

Folklore the True Mother originated from the Bengkulu area. Tells about a lazy kitten and its mother. Once upon a time in ancient times, in a dense forest, there lived a mother cat with her child. The mother cat is very fond of her child, so she always spoiled her child. Every day he is always looking for food for his child, even when his child has grown. As a result, the kitten grows into a lazy cat.

7. Putri Gading Cempaka

Putri Gading Folk Story Cempaka originated from the North Bengkulu area. Putri Gading Cempaka is the youngest daughter of Raja Ratu Agung. King Ratu Agung himself came from the Majapahit Kingdom. Based on the story, Putri Gading Cempaka is the ancestor of the kings who once ruled in the Lemau River Kingdom, North Bengkulu.

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6. The Amparan Gading Stone

Batu Amparan Gading is a folklore of Bengkulu in the south. Usually this folklore is told by parents as a lullaby for children. Once upon a time in the past, there lived a viceroy and his wife, named Putri Gani. They lived happily in the royal palace with their two children, a boy and a girl.

5. The Snake Ndaung and Si Bungsu

The story of the Snake Ndaung comes from the Bengkulu area. The legend of Snake Ndaung tells of a prince who was condemned to be a snake. But finally the prince managed to remove the curse after marrying a girl. The girl was originally going to ask for help to cure her mother who was sick. Ndaung's birthday agreed to help him as long as the girl wanted to be eligible to become his wife.

4. Princess Serindang Bulan

Once upon a time in Bengkulu, there lived seven sisters. They are the daughters of Raja Wawang. Of the seven siblings, Putri Serindang Bulan is the youngest daughter. Princess Serindang Bulan is also famous for being the most beautiful. There have been many men wanting to ask for her hand but she always refused with the excuse of not wanting to step over her six siblings.

3. The Story of Bujang Awang Tabuang

A Bengkulu regional folklore, Bujang Awang Tabuang, tells of a handsome young man with a powerful mandraguna. He is the son of King Kramo Kratu Agung and his queen Princess Rimas Bangesu. Considered unable to produce offspring, Putri Rimas Bangesu was exiled to the forest by her own husband on the advice of a royal advisor.

2. The Legend of Batu Kuyung

Both parents of Dimun & Meterei are so busy working that they have no time to educate their children. They make a living by farming, fishing, and making handicrafts such as bubu, baronang, and baskets for them to sell in the market. Because of their busy lives, as a result, Dimun & Meterei grew up to become poorly tempered children. Both of their children often say harsh words, mock others, and are very naughty.

1. The Origin of the Name Bengkulu

According to Bengkulu folklore, the origin of the name Bengkulu originated during the war between the Kingdom of Aceh and the Kingdom of Serut. The root of the problem is the rejection of the proposal by Putra Raja Aceh by Raja Anak Dalam Muara Bengkulu, the King of the Kingdom of Serut. The battle took place between the two kingdoms with great without any win or lose party.