THE GOLDEN SNAIL
(Folk Tale from East Java)
Dewi Galuh Candra Kirana was a princess from the Kingdom of Daha. She was kind and very beautiful. She was enggaged to Raden Inu Kertapati, the Crown Princes of the Kahuripan Kingdom. Raden Inu Kertapati was wise and very handsome.
Galuh Candra Kirana has a step sister named Galuh Ajeng. Galuh Ajeng was jealous of her. She wanted to marry Raden Inu Kertapati. She looked for a way to get rid of Galuh Candra Kirana. Galur Ajeng went to see an old wicth. The old wicth gace her a spell to curse Galur Candra Kirana. Before cursing her stepsister, Galuh Ajeng slandered her. The King of Daha believed her words and threw Galuh Candra Kirana away from the palace.
The poor pricess lived in misery. She wandered to a beach. There she was cursed and turned into a golden snail. As Keong Emas - The Golden Snail, Galuh Candra Kirana was drifted by the waves; At last she was ashore on a foreign land.
Keong Emas crept to a small village named Dadapan. In that village lived old woman named, Nyai Dadapan. The old woman found Keong Emas. This snail is very beautiful, I will keep it,” she said. She bought Keong Emas to her hut. Nyai Dadapan put the snail in a big earthen jug.
One day Nyai Dadapan came home from fishing.
She didn’t catch any fish, but when she arrived at her hut, she was surprised because dinner was ready. There was much delicious food on the table.
“My oh my……there is delicious food. What a coincidence! I am hungry!” Without thinking twice, she ate up the food.
After her dtomach was full, she realized something.
“Who cooked this food?” she said
The next morning she thought, I will pretend to go fishing. But I will hide behind the door and watch. Nyai Dadapan pretended to go. Then, she secretly hid behind the door.
Not long after that, she saw Keong Emas crept out of the big water jug. Suddenly the snail turned into a beautiful girl. The girl cleaned the hut and cooked a delicious food. Nyai Dadapn came out from behind the door.
“Hi…who are you, beautiful girl?’ she asked.
“I…I am the princess of Daha. Galuh Ajeng. My step sister was jealous of me. She asked for a spell from an old witch to curse me so I turned into a golden snail.”
After saying that, the Princess’ body shrank and then she turned into Keong Emas again.
“Galuh Ajeng is very cruel,” said Nyai Dadapan sadly.
She prayed, wishing that Galuh Candra Kirana’s suffering will end soon.
Raden Inu Kertapati heard the news that his fiancee was thrown out from the palace. He carried out an investigation and found out that Galuh Candra Kirana was not guilty. Then the Prince went to see the King of Daha.
At least Galuh Ajeng was punished by the King.
Raden Inu kertapati went searching for his fiancee. After walking for hours, he became thirty. He stopped by at nyai Dadapan’s hut to ask for water.
At moment, the princess was looking out of the window. Raden Inu Kertapati saw her.
“My dear Candra kirana!” he cried happily.vanished.
The meeting was very touching
The princess introduced Nyai Dadapan to her fiancee.
The suffering was over.
Raden Inu Kertapati went back to the palace with Galuh Candra kirana. They asked the goodhearted Nyai Dadapan to come along.
The name of Keong Emas or Golden Snail is now used for Teater Keong Emas in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.
Source: The Golden Snail
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