The
episode Ande Ande Lumut tells another version of the union between Prince
Kusumayuda and Kleting Kuning. She is the youngest of four sisters, all
daughters of a widow in a village within the Prince Kusumayuda's father domain.
The widow daughters were named according to colors: the eldest is Kleting Abang
(Kleting Merah/Red Kleting), next is Kleting Biru (Blue Kleting), then Kleting
Ijo (Green Kleting), and the youngest is Kleting Kuning (Yellow Kleting). All of
Kleting Kuning's older sisters are jealous because Kleting Kuning is very
beautiful. Kleting Kuning actually is an adopted foster daughter, and the missing princess of
Janggala kingdom, later known as Dewi Candrakirana. Keleting Kuning was betrothed to Prince Kusumayuda
and he never forgot the face of the beautiful young princess meant to be his future consort and the future queen of
Banyuarum kingdom. He continued to love her and look for her even after they
were separated when the princess became lost as a child.
Batik depicting Yuyu Kangkang emerging from the river.
After many
years of Kleting Kuning living in the village with the widow's family, a rich
and handsome eligible bachelor named
Ande Ande Lumut declared that he was searching for a bride. Many girls across
the kingdom were smitten
and interested in becoming his wife, including Kleting Kuning's sisters. Only
Kleting Kuning was not interested since she had not forgotten the youthful face and betrothal to Prince Kusumayuda.
However a magical crane
told Kleting Kuning to participate in this event where her true fate awaited her. All of the
girls dressed up beautifully, putting on their make-up and marched together towards Ande
Ande Lumut's house. However her stepmother ordered Kleting Kuning not to dress
up and even disguised her
beauty in ugly and dirty clothes, hoping one of her own daughters, who were
Kleting Kuning's elders, would win more favor and the bachelor's heart. She
even gave her a sapu lidi (a simple broom made of coconut leaf spines) to carry, in order to
make Kleting Kuning looks like a poor servant, however actually it was a
magical broom.
In their
journey, the girls had to cross a large river without any ferry services. The
river was guarded by a
giant freshwater crab named Yuyu Kangkang. Yuyu Kangkang
offered to take the girls across the river, riding upon its back, in return for
a kiss. In order to reach Ande Ande Lumut's house as fast as possible, the
girls hastily agreed on
this arrangement and allowed Yuyu Kangkang to kiss them. Kleting Kuning arrived
late at the river bank after he had taken the others across, and again Yuyu
Kangkang offered its service for a kiss. Of course Kleting Kuning, who always upheld her modesty and chastity, refused. Yuyu
Kangkang, angered with Kleting Kuning refusal, tried to eat her. In defense Kleting Kuning tried to
hit the crab but missed and hit the river with her broom and magically all the
water in the river dried up,and Kleting Kuning was able to cross the river
safely. Yuyu Kangkang was trapped on the dry banks and was very scared and he
begged her for her mercy
and forgiveness and to return the river to its home as it was before. Kleting
Kuning felt sorry for him and again hit the ground with the broom and the water
returned washing the relieved
Yuyu Kangkang downstream.
By then, Kleting Kuning's sisters had reached Ande Ande Lumut's house where
they were greeted kindly
by Ande Ande Lumut's mother and served refreshments. Although the girls are pretty, and Ande Ande Lumut
liked them, he refused all of them because he could detect the smelly pungent fishy kiss of Yuyu
Kangkang on them. Finally Kleting Kuning arrived, dirty and simply dressed like a servant,
which is how her sisters introduce her to Ande Ande Lumut's mother who asked
her to wait outside. However Ande Ande Lumut received her warmly, as he could
see the true beauty beneath
and invited her in. After
he speaks to her, he realizes that Kleting Kuning is the princess, his long
lost love. At that moment Kleting Kuning also realizes that Ande Ande Lumut is
actually Kusumayuda, her beloved prince. They are reunited, soon are married and live happily ever
after.
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