by Ami Bhat
“Yes, my child. All the gifts that you have received. But are you sure? Won’t your chosen one…”
“No, Ibu,” interrupted Mandalika. “No one will mind once they hear my decision of one for all. And it will all calm down…today.”
“One for all? What is that, child? You have a way with words.”
Mandalika just smiled in the mirror as Ibu Nur gently clasped the soft pink pearls around her dainty neck. Mandalika’s thoughts raced back to the one who had presented this to her—Pangeran 52Datu from Jonor.
Tojang Beru Kingdom, Lombok – a Month Back
She was on one of her usual post-dinner strolls by the beach, flicking her shells that doubled up as dice. “Three,” she announced as she hopped to a rough square etched on the soft sand. Every evening, she and her companions would draw a maze and play the game of hopscotch using shells. For those few moments, they would all be equal, pushing and prodding each other, squealing as the waves splashed, and running around like kids. That night too, the banter continued, except that this time, unknown to them, they had an audience.
Pangeran Datu could not take his eyes off her as he watched her from his guest quarters in the palace. Her skin shone as white pearls in the moonlight. Every movement of hers felt like a graceful dance that she was performing just for him. Her tinkle of laughter made his heart race.
“I must have her,” he whispered to his General. “She is the embodiment of a goddess.”
“Soon, my Lord. King Tanjung did, after all, invite you,” replied the General.
“And five others,” Pangeran Datu growled.
“That is a mere formality. A show so that the princess feels that she has been given a choice. They are no competition to the man that you are! Handsome and brave,” remarked the General.
“That maybe. But I need to let her know that she needs to choose me. Send her a token of my love…those special Lombok pearls. I am sure that with such a gesture, she won’t be able to refuse me.”
And the next morning, the General appeared with the prince’s gift. “Putri Mandalika, Pangeran Datu has sent his greetings. Please accept the finest pearls from Lombok strait.”
Tojang Beru Kingdom, Lombok – 20th Day of the 10th Month
“Putri, could you please raise your hand?” The soft voice of Ibu Nur brought her back to the present. She moved around Mandalika, draping a pretty pink scarf around her shoulders. The delicately woven fabric complimented her pearl strings. Ibu Nur looked at her proudly through the mirror and commented, “The color of this drape enhances your glow. Putri, is the giver of this gift your chosen one?”
Mandalika smiled in reply as her thoughts jumped to Pangeran Maliawang from Lipur.
Tojang Beru Kingdom, Lombok – a month back
Whoosh! Smack!
The arrow missed its mark and lodged itself into a tree. His companions stood stunned. It was not known of the prince to lose focus. But here, he was distracted by the vision of beauty that had interfered with his line of sight.
Surrounded by the pink bougainvillea, unmindful of the turmoil she was causing in the heart of the young prince, Mandalika reached up for the rosy blossoms. Humming softly, she plucked some to put in her hair. Her attendants helped pin the pink blooms, while she settled near the shrub, enjoying the sight of the sun setting into the ocean.
“My Lord, that is who you have come here for…Putri Mandalika,” whispered his companion.
“And she is worth those thousand miles and more. I must win her hand,” said the prince.
“No one is a better archer than you, my Lord. You are bound to win the archery contest, and she will surely be yours.”
The prince nodded as he looked at her. “She looks lovely in pink. Gift her that special Sasak53 weave with a request to wear it on the day. It will be my stroke of luck.”
And so, the rosy drape found its way to Princess Mandalika.
Tojang Beru Kingdom, Lombok – 20th Day of the 10th Month
Clang! Bang! Boom!
The sound of the Gengong, Ceng Ceng, and Gedang54 broke her reverie. The celebrations had started. They really don’t know what they are celebrating. Mandalika stared at herself with a melancholic smile.
A shell brooch glittered brightly against the silky scarf, and a diamond hairpin complimented her raven black hair. Silver bangles clanged around her slim wrist as she raised her hand to dab the exotic Anggrek Bulan55 fragrance. She put the bottle down, thinking, That completes my ensemble. I hope I have pleased them all. Most of all, I hope they accept my choice today. Her thoughts raced back to when it all started.
Tojang Beru Kingdom, Lombok – Three Weeks Back
The six princes had all lined up for the final archery round. It was almost decision time. The people of Tojang Beru had assembled to see who would be the one to take away their fair princess.
“At the beat of the Gendang, you will all release your arrows to hit the targets in front of you. You will get three tries, and the declared winner will come forward to claim Putri Mandalika’s hand in marriage,” announced the referee.
The princes looked towards the dais, where the king, the queen, and the princess were seated. They bowed with respect and mounted their arrows.
Bang!
Six arrows flew through the air and hit their marks perfectly. The crowd whistled and cheered. Some shouted the name of their favorite prince.
Bang!
Six more arrows hit their mark, not one out of place. The crowd cheered even louder. All of them are equally good. The princes looked at each other as they geared for the last and final round. Prince Maliawang glanced at the princess and decided to take a gamble. He put out his hand, and an assistant ran forward with a blindfold. With one final look at the princess and then his target, he gestured to the assistant to blindfold his eyes. Picking up his bow, he mounted the arrow, ready for the sound.
A sadistic grin appeared on the face of Prince Datu. He bowed towards the king and got ready with his bow. Shrugging at the new turn of events, the other four followed suit.
Bang!
The six arrows flew towards their target, and behold, each one of them hit the targets again. The crowd went ballistic, screaming out the names of various princes. Each one of them had their own favorite and was rooting for them.
With a victorious grin, Prince Maliawang removed his blindfold and looked at his princess. He was sure he would be rewarded. Raising his hands in triumph, he joined the other princes on the royal stage. Arrogantly, Prince Datu pushed his way to the front, causing the other princes to stumble. A scuffle broke out, causing the respective generals to be on alert.
“Stop! All of you were equally good. The final decision now rests with Putri Mandalika,” announced the king.
“Equally good? I beat them blindfolded! How can you say equally good?” retorted Prince Maliawang.
Prince Datu scoffed, “No one asked you to. The contest was about hitting the target, blind or not!”
“It is about who has a better skill, and I have proven that I am the one!” shouted Prince Maliawang.
“Says who?” interjected the prince from Daha.
“Oh yeah! I can single-handedly take you all down. Want to give it a try?” screamed Prince Maliawang.
The argument grew louder, with the generals of each kingdom joining in. Before the king could stop them, the men had started exchanging blows. The crowd screamed and encouraged the fight. Two or three men fell unconscious, badly injured. The fight reached a peak when one of the men threw a stone that almost hit the princess.
“I command you to stop right now!” screamed the king. The princes and their respective armies broke apart.
“This is absolutely disgusting. You, young men, have to rein in your tempers,” he admonished them. The princes hung their heads shamefully and moved apart.
The king turned to the crowd and addressed them all. “The contest was for my daughter to choose the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Clearly, skill is not every
thing.” At this point, the king gave a stern look to the princes. “Over the next few days, my daughter will talk to the princes and make her choice. And her word will be final!”
Thus began the week of wooing. Each of the princes met with Mandalika separately. They appeased her with gifts from their lands, serenaded her, and appealed to her. At the same time, they played dirty with each other by playing tricks, spreading rumors, and picking fights.
Confused and upset with the turn of events, Mandalika fled to the forest for a week till she got her solution.
Tojang Beru Kingdom, Lombok – 20th Day of the 10th Month
It will finally be over today, she thought as she recalled the decision she had made. The solution was simple, and it gave her a lot of peace. She was only sad about leaving.
As if on cue, the maid announced the arrival of Queen Mother. She had come to take her daughter to the ceremony. Mandalika stood up and bowed to her respectfully. The Queen Mother’s eyes filled with tears, and she hugged her only child. “Never before you looked so gorgeous. I hate giving you away. But as the norm of society goes, a daughter has to go to her new home. I will miss you so much.”
Mandalika felt a teardrop from her eyes as she hugged her mother. Wiping it hastily, she pulled away and addressed her mother. “And I will miss you. I hope that my decision brings peace to everyone.”
“And who have you chosen?” asked Queen Mother mischievously.
“In a moment! Soon!” replied the princess intriguingly.
The crowd cheered as their favorite princess walked onto Kuta beach. They had been eagerly waiting to know whom she had chosen. The six princes and their entourage had already gathered at the shore, each dressed in their best. Each one of them felt special when they spotted the princess wearing their gifts. And when she smiled down at them from a ledge, they all felt their hearts soar. She has chosen me! She has smiled for me!
The gathering quietened as the princess began to speak. “Today is the day when I will be leaving you all. It has been the hardest decision of my life, but now that I have made it, I hope you all will be at peace.”
Mandalika turned to the princes. “All my life, I was taught respect and kindness. If there is something that I ever wanted, it is the gift of love and peace. These physical gifts mean nothing unless they are accompanied with feelings of humility and selflessness.” Hearing these words, the princes shifted uncomfortably on their feet.
Mandalika looked at them with kindness and continued. “Each of you is gifted. But in this life, I cannot be there for everyone. And I hate choosing one because I don’t want to disappoint the other. So, I have chosen to be there for all of you.”
Flabbergasted, the princes exchanged looks. Whispers broke in the crowd.
“What does she mean?”
“Be there for all?”
“Who has she chosen?”
Ignoring the slow noise, Mandalika raised her hand in farewell and walked to the edge of the ledge. “Farewell, my princes. The next time you see me, I will be there for all, and I shall keep returning on the same day year after year!” And with that, Mandalika jumped off the ledge into the water.
Prince Datu, who was the closest, ran to catch her but missed. He plunged into the water after her, as did the other princes. They swam around looking for her but found nothing, except for thousands of unusual sea worms.
Many people jumped in to join the princes, but Mandalika was nowhere to be found. The next day, the search continued, and strangely, not only had Mandalika disappeared but so had those strange worms.
“So that is what she meant! One for all! Nyale, the sea worms,” wept the old lady, Ibu Nur. “She turned herself into the worms, so that we all could have her.”
KUTA BEACH, LOMBOK, INDONESIA
A tribute to the legend of Mandalika on the Kuta Beach in Lombok
Every year on the 20th day of the 10th month in the Sasak Calendar, Kuta Beach in Lombok celebrates the Bau Nyale festival. The locals gather at the beach for a massive fishing expedition to catch the Nyale or the sea worms. Strangely, these sea worms appear in abundance on this particular day. Legend has it that the Nyale are reincarnations of Princess Mandalika, who flung herself into the water to restore peace among the princes vying for her attention.
The locals believe that catching the Nyale would bring a lot of fortune to them. Consumption by women would make them as beautiful as Princess Mandalika, while for men, it would bring a lot of health. Numerous competitions and cookery contests are held along the beach to celebrate the joyous occasion of Mandalika’s return.
Additional Reading
A travel guide to the best things to do in Lombok - https://thrillingtravel.in/things-to-do-in-lombok-indonesia.html#Bau_Nyale_Festival
1Tau Ji – Father’s elder brother; his wife is refered to as Tai Ji
2Kala tikka – A black dot that is usually dabbed on the face of a person- usually a child or a young lady to ward off the evil eye
3Palki – Palanquin
4Chunnari – A dupatta or a scarf worn over with the traditional outfits
5Diwan – A minister
6Khanjar – Traditional daggers, often carried by men to defend themselves.
7Rakhi – A thread that is tied by a sister on her brother’s wrist on the festival of Raksha Bandhan. The brother promises to honor the thread and protect his sister from any harm.
8Mausi – Mother’s sister
9Trulku – A high profile Buddhist Monk who is a custodian of the Buddhist teachings
10Prayer wheels are cylindrical wheels that are spun clockwise by the Buddhists while chanting prayers. The spinning is believed to help them purify their thoughts and spread good vibes around. Most monasteries have a line of these installed around them.
11Tsa Tsa are clay articles that are shaped like mini stupas. These contain the ashes of the deceased and are usually left near caves, high mountains, or rivers. The clay memorials are believed to be preservation of the good merits of the deceased.
12It is believed that Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava hid several of his teachings for the later generations. Some of these teachings or Terma were discovered by a Bhutanese monk – Pema Lingpa who was given the nickname of being a treasure hunter or Terton.
13Doge – The elected representative of the Republic of Venice. Once elected, he would remain in power till the end of his life.
14Bocca di Leone – A secret letterbox kept at the Doge’s Palace. It literally translates into the “Lion’s mouth.” Any citizen of Venice could post a complaint to the Council of Ten through this letterbox.
15Piombi or The Leads – The oldest prison in the Doge’s Palace. The prison cells were right under the lead roof of the building, allowing intense heat during summer and making the place really cold during the winter. Some of the cells were so tiny that the prisoner kept here could only crawl in and out.
16Scala D’Oro – the golden staircase that leads to the key chambers within the Doge’s Palace. The staircase is covered with stunning paintings and sculptures.
17Japamala – Prayer beads
18Angavastra – A garment draped on the upper body
19Ghats – Banks of a river.
20Shaktipeetha – Sacred shrines that were formed when Goddess Sati’s body parts fell down on the Earth. These are now famous pilgrimage centers.
21Kamandal – A water pot, and in this case, used by Rishis during their worship.
22Mohurs – Gold coins used as currency in ancient times.
23Prahar – An ancient unit of time
24Harishchandra – King Harishchandra was a legendary ruler who never spoke a lie. As part of a test, his kingdom was taken away from him by Sage Vishwamitra and he was forced to sell not just himself but his wife and son for money that he had to give the Sage. During this test, he landed at the ghat to work as a slave for Dom Raja.
25Ram Naam Satya Hai – A chant used during a Hindu cremation procession. It literally translates to ‘The truth is in Ram’s nam
e.’
26Phra – A Thai term for a priest or a monk
27Mae – Mother in Thai
28Sa means Mulberry in Thai
29The Legendary King Midas whose touch turned everything to gold, including his own daughter.
30A regulator is an essential part of a scuba-diving equipment connecting the gas cylinder through hose pipes. One of those is inserted in the mouth for breathing.
31Gumnut – woody fruit of Eucalyptus tree
32Gondwana – It is believed that Earth used to be one single large continent called Gondwana before it got split.
33Pavadai – a traditional skirt and blouse worn in Kerala
34Chetta – a term used for older brother
35Poi – meaning gone in Malayalam
36Appa – a term used to address father. The corresponding term for mother is Amma
37Onn – meaning one in Malayalam
38Chenda – a traditional drum
39Ghunghroos – strings of bells worn by the dancer during a performance
40Mudras – Hand gestures used by the classical dancers
41Kansa and Krishna – Mythological characters that are generally depicted by classical dancers
42Kumari Ghar – the residence of the Living Goddess
43Goddess Taleju – an incarnation of Goddess Durga
44Shakya – A clan in Nepal and India
45Nakshatra – Astrology based on the stars and planetary alignments in the Lunar calendar. It is largely used by Hindus
46Battis Lakshan – 32 virtuous qualities
47Jai Kumari – Long Live Kumari
48Julley – Traditional greeting in Ladakh
49Kamboja – Popularly called Frangipani flowers
50Putri in Indonesia refers to Princess
51Ibu is a respectful term to address an older woman
52Pangeran – a term for Prince
53Sasak – the local tribe of Lombok islands
54Gedang, Ceng Ceng and Gengong are traditional musical instruments used on the Lombok islands
