Legenda Danau Malawen >> Edisi Indonesia
Folklore from Central Kalimantan
Long ago, deep near the lush jungles of Central Kalimantan, there lived a humble husband and wife. They were poor, but their hearts were filled with hope. Though they lived simply, one longing never left them: the longing for a child.
Every night they prayed, “O Lord… bless us with a child to fill our home with joy.”
One night, the wife awoke trembling.
“Husband,” she whispered, “I had a dream. An old man came to me. His face shone like moonlight. He said we must meditate in the jungle for a hundred days.”
Her husband looked at her with wide eyes.
“Perhaps this is a sign,” he said softly. “Let us obey.”
And so, with faith and determination, they entered the jungle. For a hundred days they fasted, prayed, and lived in silence beneath towering trees. When they returned home, something wondrous happened—the wife soon became pregnant.
Nine months later, a healthy baby boy was born.
“We shall call him Kumbang Banaung,” the father declared proudly.
Kumbang Grows Up
Kumbang grew into a handsome, strong young man. But though he carried strength in his limbs, his heart was stubborn.
“Son,” his father often said, “listen to our words. The jungle is not a place to wander carelessly.”
But Kumbang would shrug. “I know the forest better than anyone,” he insisted.
One evening, as clouds swallowed the sky, Kumbang strapped on his hunting tools.
“It’s already dark,” his mother warned. “Wait until morning.”
“I can’t,” he replied. “Tonight feels promising.”
His father sighed heavily. “If you insist on going… take this.”
He handed Kumbang a plate—smooth, shimmering, mysterious.
“A magic plate,” the father explained. “If danger comes, use it wisely.”
Kumbang nodded and disappeared into the night.
Lost in the Dark
The forest turned pitch black. Kumbang’s steps grew unsure.
“Where… am I?” he murmured.
Hours passed before he finally stumbled into a brightly lit village. Music played. Lanterns glowed. A birthday celebration filled the night.
And there…
A girl stood among the lights—graceful, radiant, gentle.
Kumbang approached her.
“Good evening… I’m Kumbang,” he said nervously.
The girl smiled. “My name is Intan. Tonight is my birthday.”
Kumbang’s heart thudded like a drum. And from that moment, he loved her.
When the party ended, he memorized the path home, returning at dawn. His parents’ worried faces met him, but he said nothing of Intan. That night, after they slept, he slipped away again.
And again.
And again.
Intan waited for him each night, her eyes sparkling like stars on calm water.
“I’m glad you came,” she whispered.
“I would cross the whole jungle just to see you,” Kumbang replied.
But the villagers began to whisper.
Pressure From the Village
“Headman, do something,” the villagers complained. “Intan meets that stranger every night!”
The head of the village frowned. Finally he spoke to a wealthy merchant.
“Marry your son to Intan. It will stop this problem.”
The merchant agreed at once.
When Intan heard this, her face turned pale.
“Father… I don’t love him,” she pleaded.
“This is final,” her father said.
Intan ran to Kumbang that night.
“Kumbang… please. You must propose soon!”
Kumbang rushed home, breathless.
“Father, Mother—let me marry Intan!”
But his parents lowered their heads.
“We are poor,” his mother said softly. “Her family will not accept us.”
Kumbang’s anger flared.
“Then I will decide my own life!”
He stormed out, taking the magic plate with him.
The Escape
“Intan,” he whispered when he reached her. “Come with me. Tonight.”
She nodded without hesitation.
But villagers spotted them.
“There! Stop them!”
Kumbang held Intan’s hand tightly.
“Run!”
The jungle whipped past them. Their breath burned. Their hearts pounded.
At last they reached a wide river—dark, deep, and wild.
“There’s no boat!” Intan cried.
Kumbang lifted the magic plate.
“Then this will be our way.”
He threw it onto the water.
The plate grew, stretching into the shape of a sampan.
“Hurry,” he urged, helping her aboard.
 |
| With a trembling heart, Kumbang cast the magic plate into the river—watching it transform into the only path left for their love. |
The Storm
As soon as they pushed away from the shore, the wind roared. Rain crashed down like falling stones. Lightning sliced through the sky.
“Kumbang!” Intan shouted, holding tightly to him.
“We’ll make it!” he answered—but his voice trembled.
A monstrous wave rolled toward them.
The sampan flipped.
“Intan!”
“Kumbang!”
Their cries were swallowed by the storm.
The river churned, twisted, and widened…
and in time, it became a lake.
People later named it Malawen Lake.
Some say white crocodiles emerged from its depths—gentle, watchful, gliding through the water like guardians.
Locals whisper that they are Kumbang and Intan, still together, still protecting the place where their love became legend.
And to this day, whenever a white crocodile appears on the shimmering surface of Malawen Lake, villagers bow their heads and say…
“They’re watching. Their story lives on.”
Moral Message
Love and courage must be guided by wisdom. Listening to parental advice, practicing patience, and thinking through the consequences of every action can prevent tragedy. Impulsive decisions—even when driven by love—may lead to unforeseen outcomes.
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