The ever green legend of Pulau Dayang Bunting

According to the legend, the water of the lake at Pulau Dayang Bunting has mystical power of helping barren women to have children. Once upon the time, a celestial princess Putri Dayang Sari and the prince Putra Teja used to frequent the Pasir Teluk Air Tuhan and Teluk Lawakin the islands.

Unintentionally, Prince Putera Teja chanced to catch sight of her while she was bathing and accompanied by her maids. He was smitten by her beauty, fell deeply in love and followed her wherever she went. She rejected him but he still loves her. In desperation, he asked Tok Diang, a wise man from the village for advice. He was told to wash his face with a mermaid’s tears to winning her heart. 

He finally managed to win her heart and make her his. They lived happily and she gave birth to a baby at Lake of Born Maiden (Tasik Dayang Beranak). Unfortunately the child died after seven days old.

She discovered that the trickery marriage was the root cause of the death of the child. After casting her baby into the lake with a broken heart, she blessed the lake water with her magic fertility powers, with the statement that any woman who want to have a child could be fulfilled after drinking the water from the lake. She returned to heaven and never appeared again.

This legend, however, has gained considerable credence through a childless couple, whom marriage for almost twenty years, getting a baby girl after drinking the water from the lake.

 

A legend usually remains in his time; those who pass the legend on do not need to keep telling it in detail as the essentials are generally known. As the tourism industry is flourishing, the legend of Pulau Dayang Bunting exists as strong as ever.