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The Hanging Rock
Legend
A long time ago, there was a kingdom in Desa Sibaganding (Sibanding
Village) at the northern edge of Lake Toba. The kingdom was well-known
because of its fertile soil, and most of the people were farmers,
growing rice, and hard wood trees such as mango trees and palms
(the palm leaves are used to make palm fibers).
Besides farming, the
people also caught many kinds of fish in Lake Toba. These fish
were typically delicious Batak fish which couldn't be caught anywhere
else. Because these fish were so special, people always took the
fish to the special ceremonies such as wedding ceremonies, monument
inauguration ceremonies, house warming ceremonies, and other ritual
ceremonies. However, from among those quiet people, an unexpected
event, which could not be prevented, happened.
As
the story goes, the king had a very beautiful daughter. Many young
men came to propose to her. They were rich and sophisticated princes.
They had all necessary qualifications as required by 'Hula Hula'
(the princess' family). After the king's family discussed these
matters, they reached an agreement. They decided to choose one
prince and set up the good day (according to the fortune teller)
to invite the prince's family to continue the negotiations. When
the time came, the groom's family messengers, arrived with food
and announced the intention of the prince to the Hula Hula (the
princess' family) as the first step of the ceremony.
When
the groom's family messengers arrived at the bride's house, the
king warmly welcomed them, as they had been hoping. They invited
all the relatives to join the discussion on the future marriage.
After eating, both sides began the negotiation by using old sayings
and proverbs. They talked about the dowry (which could be money,
gold, buffalos or cows) and to set up the wedding equipment, food,
and music for the party.
The
king was firmly set in his customs. He wanted his daughter to
marry her 'pariban' (her aunt's son), but the princess wanted
to marry a different prince who had proposed to her. The 'Pariban'
(the one the king liked) came to the king's house several times,
since, according to custom, the 'Pariban' was allowed to come
to his uncle's house anytime he wanted. He could do this because
he was culturally part of the family.
Gradually, he fell
in love with the princess (his uncle's daughter). He later shared
his feelings with his aunt (the princess' mother), and of course,
the woman, as well as her husband, were very happy about it. After
all, the relationship between the relatives would be everlasting.
So
the Pariban's family invited all the relatives, including the
king's family, to have a discussion about this matter, what would
be conveyed to the king's family and how they would deliver it.
They also agreed on the 'Ulos' (Batak traditional woven cloth).
Then the result of the decision was told to the princess. She
was shocked because he was not the person she wanted to marry,
however, she hid her feelings.
One
day, the princess told her parents that actually she had chosen
someone else to be her husband. Unfortunately, her parents didn't
agree with her choice. They had decided that she should marry
her 'pariban'. Their decision was final.
Everything
had been well prepared when the wedding day came. The groom's
family and the groom arrived at the king's house. But the princess
didn't show up. So the groom's family became worried and kept
asking each other where the princess was. Her parents were very
anxious and sad while the other people searched until noon to
find the princess. Accidently, one of these people saw something
that frightened and stupefied him. He saw that the princess had
turned into stone.
Feeling
scared, he ran all the way back to the king and told him what
he had seen. Everybody who heard the news was very sad. They immediately
went to see the place. In addition to finding the princess, they
found out that the princess' dog and cat had also turned into
stones. The king sadly told the people that he hoped this would
never happen again and he asked the people to pray to God to forgive
him.
Thus
ends the story of the Batu Gantung, that, can still be seen today.
The stones still look like a person's body, a dog, and a cat in
the form of reliefs attached to the steep stone wall at the edge
of Lake Toba.
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