Dongeng Cerita Bawang Putih Bawang Merah dari

Sumatera Barat
Di sebuah desa, hiduplah seorang janda dengan dua putrinya yang cantik, Bawang Merah
dan Bawang Putih. Ayah kandung Bawang Putih yang juga suami dari ibu Bawang Merah telah
meninggal lama, jadi Bawang Putih adalah saudara tiri dari Bawang Merah.

Bawang Merah dan Bawang Putih memiliki karakter dan kepribadian yang berbeda.
Bawang Putih rajin, baik hati, jujur dan rendah hati. Sementara itu, Bawang Merah malas,
glamor, bangga dan iri. Kepribadian Bawang Merah yang buruk diperburuk karena ibunya
memanjakannya. Ibunya selalu memberinya semua yang dia inginkan. Sedangkan Bawang Putih
yang melakukan semua pekerjaan di rumah. Mencuci, memasak, membersihkan rumah, dan
semua pekerjaan dilakukan sendiri. Sementara itu, Bawang Merah dan ibunya hanya
menghabiskan waktu untuk diri mereka sendiri, karena ketika mereka membutuhkan sesuatu,
mereka bisa meminta Bawang Putih.

Bawang Putih tidak pernah mengeluh nasib buruk yang harus dia hadapi. Dia selalu
melayani ibu tiri dan saudara perempuannya dengan gembira. Suatu hari, Bawang Putih sedang
mencuci baju ibu dan saudara perempuannya di sungai. Bawang Putih tidak menyadarinya ketika
sepotong kain milik ibunya hanyut oleh sungai. Betapa sedihnya dia, berpikir bahwa jika kain itu
tidak dapat ditemukan, dia akan disalahkan, dan bukan tidak mungkin dia akan dihukum dan
diusir dari rumah.

Karena takut kain ibunya tidak bisa ditemukan, Bawang Putih terus mencari dan berjalan
di sepanjang sungai. Setiap kali dia melihat seseorang di tepi sungai, dia selalu bertanya tentang
pakaian ibunya yang hanyut oleh sungai, tetapi semua orang tidak tahu di mana kain itu.
Akhirnya Bawang Putih datang ke suatu tempat di mana sungai mengalir ke sebuah gua.
Anehnya, ada seorang wanita yang sangat tua di dalam gua. Bawang Putih bertanya pada wanita
tua itu jika dia tahu keberadaan kain milik ibunya.

Wanita itu tahu di mana kain itu, tetapi dia memberi syarat sebelum menyerahkannya ke
Bawang Putih. Syaratnya adalah dia harus bekerja membantu wanita tua itu. Bawang Putih
terbiasa bekerja keras sehingga pekerjaannya menyenangkan wanita tua itu. Saat itu sore hari dan
Bawang Putih sedang mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada wanita tua itu. Wanita itu
menyerahkan kain itu padanya. Karena kebaikannya, wanita tua itu menawarkannya hadiah
labu . Ada dua di antaranya, yang satu lebih besar dari yang lain. Bawang Putih diminta untuk
memilih hadiah yang diinginkannya. Karena Bawang Putih tidak serakah, maka dia memilih
yang lebih kecil.

Setelah itu Bawang Merah kembali ke rumah. Ibu tirinya dan Bawang Merah sangat
marah karena Bawang Putih terlambat. Dia pun menceritkan apa yang terjadi. Ibu tirinya masih
marah karena Bawang Putih terlambat dan hanya membawa satu labu kecil, jadi ibunya
membanting labu itu ke tanah.

Prakk” dan labunya pecah, tapi aneh ternyata di labu ada perhiasan emas yang indah dan
berkilauan. Ibu tirinya dan Bawang Merah sangat terkejut. Mereka akan menjadi sangat kya
dengan perhiasan yang begitu banyak. Tapi mereka serakah, mereka malah berteriak pada
Bawang Putih dan membentak kenapa Bawang Putih tidak mengambil labu yang besar. Dalam
pikiran Bawang Merah dan Ibunya, jika labu yang lebih besar diambil, mereka pasti
mendapatkan lebih banyak perhiasan.
 Untuk memenuhi keserakahan mereka, Bawang Merah mengikuti langkah-langkah yang
diceritakan oleh Bawang Putih. Dia rela menghanyutkan kain ibunya, berjalan di sepanjang
sungai, bertanya pada orang-orang dan akhirnya datang ke gua tempat wanita tua itu tinggal.
Namun, tidak seperti Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah menolak perintah wanita tua itu untuk
bekerja dan ia bahkan dengan arogan memerintahkan wanita tua itu untuk memberinya labu yang
lebih besar. Wanita tua itu memenuhi permintaan Bawang Merah memberikan labu yang Besar
untuk Bawang Merah.

Bawang Merah dengan senang hati membawa labu yang diberikan wanita tua itu, sambil
membayangkan berapa banyak perhiasan yang akan ia dapatkan. Sekembalinya ke rumah, sang
Ibu menyambut putri kesayangannya. Tidak lama setelah itu, labunya dihancurkan ke tanah,
tetapi alih-alih perhiasan, berbagai ular berbisa yang menakutkan keluar dari dalam labu.
Bawang Merah dan Ibunya akhirnya menyadari apa yang telah mereka lakukan selama ini adalah
salah dan meminta Bawang Putih untuk memaafkan mereka.
 Asal Mula Danau Toba

Alkisah pada jaman dahulu kala hiduplan seorang pemuda bernama Toba. Ia adalah
seorang yatim piatu. Sehari-hari ia bekerja di ladang. Sesekali dia mencari ikan di sungai yang
berada tak jauh dari gubugnya. Ikan hasil tangkapannya biasanya dijadikan sebagai lauk dan
sisanya dijual ke pasar.

Pada suatu hari Toba memancing sepulang dari Ladang. Ia sangat berharap mendapatkan
ikan yang besar yang bisa segera dimasaknya untuk dijadikan lauk. Terpenuhilah harapannya itu.
Tak berapa lama ia melemparkan pancingnya ke sungai, mata kailnya telah disambar ikan.
Betapa gembiranya ia ketika menarik tali pancingnya dan mendapati seekor ikan besar
tersangkut di mata pancingnya.

Sejenak toba memperhatikan ikan besar yang berhasil dipancingnya itu.” Ikan yang
aneh.” Gumannya. Seumur hidupnya belum pernah dilihatnya ikan seperti itu. Warna ikan itu
kekuningan dan sisik-sisiknya kuning keemasan. Terlihat berkilauan sisik-sisik itu ketika terkena
sinar matahari. Ketika Toba melepaskan mata kailnya dari mulut ikan tangkapannya, mendadak
terjadi sebuah keajaiban. Ikan aneh bersisik kuning keemasan itu menjelma menjadi seorang
perempuan yang cantik jelita wajahnya.

Toba terheran-heran mendapati keajaiban yang berlangsung di depan matanya itu. Ia

hanya berdiri dengan bola mata membulat dan mulut melongo.

“Tuan.” Kata perempuan jelmaan ikan indah itu.”Aku adalah kutukan Dewa karena telah
melanggar larangan besarnya. Telah ditakdirkan kepadaku, bahwa aku akan berubah bentuk
menyerupai makhluk apa saja yang memegang atau menyentuhku. Karena tuan telah
memegangku, maka akupun berubah menjadi manusia seperti Tuan ini.”

Toba memperkenalkan namanya. Begitu pula dengan perempuan berwajah jelita itu.”
Namaku, putri, tuan.”

Toba lantas menjelaskan pula keinginannya untuk memperistri Putri karena dia terpesona
kecantuikan si perempuan jelmaan ikan itu.” Bersediakah engkau menikah dengan ku?” tanyanya
setelah pembicaraan beberapa saat.

“Baiklak, aku bersedia, tuan, Selama tuan bersedia pula memenuhi satu syarat yang
kuajukan.” Jawab Putri

“Syarat apa yang engkau kehendaki? Sebutkan. Niscaya aku akan memenuhinya.”

“Permintaanku hanya satu, hendaklah tuan menutup rapat-rapat rahasiaku. Jangan sekali-
kali tuan menyebutkan jika aku berasal dari ikan. Jika tuan menyatakan kesedian tuan untuk
menjaga rahasia ini, aku bersedia menjadi istri Tuan.”

“Baiklah.” Kata Toba.” Aku akan menutup rapat-rapat rahasimu ini. Rahasia ini hanya
kita ketahui berdua saja.”

Toba dan Putri pun menikah. Keduanya hidup rukun dan berbahagia meski dalam
kesederhanaan. Kebahagian mereka serasa kian lengkap dengan kelahiran anak mereka. Seorang
anak laki-laki. Samosir namanya.

Samosir tumbuh mejadi anak yang sehat. Tubuhnya kuat. Sayang dia agak nakal serta
pemalas. Keinginannya hanya tidur-tiduran saja. Ia seperti tidak peduli atau ingin membantu
kerepotan ayahnya yang sibuk bekerja di ladang. Bahkan, untuk sekedar mengantar makanan dan
minuman untuk ayahnyapun, Samosir kerap menolak jika diminta. Seandainya mau, dia akan
melakukannya dengan malas-malasan, dengan wajah bersungut-sungut. Bertambah-tambah
malas kelakuannya akibat ibunya terus memanjakannya. Apapun yang dimintanya akan
diusahakan ibunya untuk dipenuhi.

Samosir sangat kuat nafsu makannya. Jatah makanan sehari untuk sekeluarganya bisa
dihabiskannya dalam sekali makan. Toba merasa harus bekerja lebih keras lagi untuk dapat
memenuhi keinginan makan anak laki-lakinya yangb luar biasa itu.

Pada suatu hari Samosir diminta ibunya untuk mengantarkan makanan dan minuman
untuk ayahnya. Samosir yang tengah bermalas-malasan semula enggan untuk menjalankan
perintah ibunya itu. Namun, setelah ibunya terus memaksa akhirnya dia bersedia melakukannya
meski dengan wajah yang bersungut-sungut.

Samosir membawa makanan dan minuman itu menuju ke ladang. Ditengah perjalanan,
Samosir measa lapar. Dihentikannya langkah menuju kebun. Ia lantas memakan makanan yang
seharusnya diperuntukan bagi ayahnya itu. Tidak dihabiskannya semua makanan itu melainkan
disisakan sedikit. Dengan makanan dan minuman yang tersisa sedikit itu Samosir melanjutkan
perjalanan menuju ladang. Setibanya di ladang, samosir memberikan makanan dan minuman itu
untuk ayahnya.

Toba telah sangat merasa lapar karena bekerja keras sejak pagi langsung membuka bekal
untuk memakannya. Terperanjat dia saat melihat makanan untuk nya tinggal sedikit.” Mengapa
jatah makanan dan minumanku tinggal sedikit?” tanyanya dengat raut wajah kesal.

Dengan wajah polos seolah tidak melakukan kesalahan, Samosir menjawab.” Tadi di
jalan aku sangat lapar, Ayah. Oleh karenanya, jatah makanan dan minuman ayah itu telah
kumakan sebagian. Tapi, tidak semua kuhabiskan, bukan? Masih tersedia sedikit makanan dan
minuman untuk Ayah.”

“anak tidak tahu diuntung.” Maki toba kepada anaknya. Kemarahan seketika meninggi.
Serasa tidak bisa lagi dia menahan dan bersabar, umpatannyapun seketika itu meluncur.” Dasar
anak keturunan ikan engkau ini.”

Samosir sangat terkejut mendengat umpatan ayahnya. Dia langsung berlari ke rumah.
Pada saat bertemu ibunya, samosir langsung menceritakan umpatan dan cacian ayahnya yang
menyebutkan dirinya adalah keturunan ikan.

Mendengar pengaduan anaknya, ibu Samosir menjadi sangat bersedih. Tidak disangka
jika suaminya melanggar sumpah untuk tidak menyebutkannya berasal dari ikan.

yang sangat deras. Dari dalam tanah, air laksana disemburkan keluar seolah tiada henti.
Semakin lama tidak semkin berkuran semburan air itu melainkan semakin besar adanya. Dalam
waktu cepat permukaan tanah itu pun tergenang. Permukaan air terus meninggi dan tek berapa
lama kemudian lembah tempat tinggal Toba telah tergenang air. Terbentuklah kemudian sebuah
danau yang sangat luas di tempat itu.

Penduduk kemudian menamakan danau itu Danau Toba. Adapun pulau kecil yang berada
ditengah-tengah danau toba itu disebut Pulau Samosir untuk mengingatkan kepada pada anak
lelaki Toba.
 The Legend Of Lake Toba

Once upon a time there was a prosperous village in a far away island called Sumatra. In
northern part of the island, lived a farmer whose name was Toba. He lived alone in a hut by a
small forest. He worked on his farmland to grow rice and vegetables that he sells to local market.
Once day he wanted to catch some fish so he went to a river and fished there. He was very
surprised when he got a big fish. The fish was as big as human being. Soon he went home and
put the fish in his kitchen. He planned to cook the fish for his dinner that night. When he got to
his house that afternoon he took a bath. Then as he walked into his bedroom after taking a bath
Toba was very shocked. Do you want to know what happened?

There stood in his living room a very beautiful girl. The girl greeted him nicely. For a
moment Toba was speechless. When he could control his emotion he asked her.

‘Who are you? What’s your name? Why suddenly you are here in my house?’

‘Pardon me if I surprised you Mr. Toba, but you took me here. I was the fish that you caught in
the river. Now that I become a human being again, I would like to thank you and I will be your
servant to express my thankfulness’

‘Were you the fish?’

‘Yes, I was the fish. Look at your kitchen’.

Toba immediately rushed to his kitchen and the fish was nowhere to be seen. He saw some gold
coins instead.

‘Whose coins are these? Why there are some coins here?’

‘Those coins are mine. As I changed into human being my scales changed into gold coins’

‘Ok you can live here and work for me. Your room is over there’

‘Thank you very much Mr. Toba’

Since that day the beautiful girl lived in Toba’s house. Since she was very beautiful Toba
fell in love with her and not long after that they got married. The girl married to Toba on one
condition that he would never tell anybody about her past. Toba agreed to the condition. Several
months later Toba’s wife delivered to a baby boy. Their son was healthy. Soon he grew up into a
handsome boy. Toba named him Samosir. Unfortunately Samosir was a lazy boy. He did not
want to work at all. When his father worked hard in his rice field and farm, Samosir just slept.
When he was awake he talked a lot and he ate a lot. Toba was very disappointed with his son’s
nature. He hoped that one day Samosir would change into a diligent boy. Day in and day out but
Samosir never changed.

Toba used to go to his farm and rice field early in the morning. Then at midday his wife
would bring him food. They used to eat lunch at their farm. As he was a teenager Toba and his
wife tried to change his behavior. They ordered Samosir to bring food for his father for lunch
while her mother stayed at home to do household chores. But Samosir never did his duty well.
He always woke up very late. He woke up after midday. Then one day his mother forced him to
bring the food.
‘Sam, wake up. Go to the farm and bring the food for your father. He must be very tired and
hungry now’.

But Mom, I am tired and hungry too’

‘What makes you tired? You just wake up. Go now. You father needs the food’

Toba reluctantly went to the farm. But he did not go to the farm immediately. He stopped
somewhere in the street and ate the food. It was already late afternoon when he got to the farm.
His father was disappointed. Then he was angry as he realized that his son had eaten his food. He
said sarcastically.

‘O, you are stupid lazy boy. You are son of a fish!’

Samosir was hurt. He went home right away and as he got home he told his mother about
his father’s words. Samosir’s mother was shocked. She was also deeply hurt.

‘O Toba. You break your promise so I cannot live with you here anymore. Now you have to
accept to consequence of what you did. Samosir, now go to the hill, find the tallest tree and
climb it’

‘Why mom? What will happen?’

‘Just do it, never ask any question. Good bye’

As soon as she finished saying that suddenly the weather changed. Sunny day suddenly
turned into cloudy day. Not long after that the rain poured heavily. The rain last for several days.
Consequently the area was flooded. The whole area became a big lake. Then it was called Lake
Toba and in the middle of the lake there is an island called Samosir Island. Meanwhile Toba’s
wife disappeared.
 Onion And Garlic Story

A long time ago, in a nice quite village, there lived a wealthy merchant, he lived together
with his daughter who was named Bawang Putih. This merchant's wife had long since passed
away. The merchant was very fond of his daughter. Because she was obedient and kind-hearted.

One day, as he came home from travelling, he brought a woman and her daughter along
with him. He wanted to marry this woman. So, Bawang Putih now had a stepmother and a
stepsister who is named Bawang Merah.

When her father went to trade, her stepmother and Bawang Merah would treat Bawang
Putih like a servant. Bawang Putih did all the work that was ordered by her stepmother. She
cleaned the house, cooked, washed clothes, and looked for firewood. If Bawang Putih's work
went wrong, her stepmother would punish her by not feeding her.

Every morning, her stepmother and Bawang Merah took turns shouting,

"Hey Bawang Putih, wash my clothes!"

Not yet finished washing clothes, Bawang Putih would then be called by her stepmother.

"Bawang Putih, prepare breakfast now! We are hungry."

"Ok... Okay, mom."

Because Bawang Putih worked so hard and was punished so harshly, her body became
thinner. One day, Bawang Putih's father returned home and fell ill. He was very ill and Bawang
Putih was very sad because of it. She never left her father alone. However, God decided
differently. Bawang Putih's father died.

"Father... Don't leave Bawang Putih... Father ..."

While Bawang Putih wept and cried, her stepmother and Bawang Merah were excited.
Because the property and house of Bawang Putih's father now belonged to them.

"Look Bawang Merah, he finally died." "Yes, Mom we will be rich."

Bawang Putih's life was miserable after her father died. She no longer had her father to
love and comfort her. Her stepmother and Bawang Merah further tortured her. Bawang Putih
tried to be patient but sometimes she would cry at night.

"Lord, please help me. Why are they always evil to me?"

One day, Bawang Putih went to the river to wash clothes. She was sleepy and hungry, her
body was weak. While washing, Bawang Putih didn't realise that her stepmother's favourite
shawl had washed away. When she put all the clothes into the basket, she was surprised to find
her stepmother's scarf was not there.

"Mother's favourite scarf is gone... Oh no! It's drifting down the river... What should I
do? I daren't go home. Mother will scold me."

Finally, Bawang Putih decided to go back down the river to look for her stepmother's
scarf. In the middle of the road, she met a farmer who was washing his cow.
 "Uncle, did you see a red scarf floating down the river?"

The farmer nodded and replied,

"Red shawl? Hmm oh yes I saw it. The scarf was taken by an old grandmother who was
washing her by the river. The old grandmother's house is on the mountain."

Bawang Putih immediately headed up the mountain. There, she found a wooden house.
Bawang Putih knocked on the door of the house,

"Excuse me, Grandma, did you find my mother's red scarf?"

The old grandmother came out of the house and greeted Bawang Putih.

"Hi dear, let's go in. What's your name?"

"My name is Bawang Putih, Grandma."

The old grandmother will give a red scarf with one condition, Bawang Putih must help
her first. Bawang Putih agreed. All day, she helped the grandmother cook, look for firewood,
clean the house and wash clothes. For Bawang Putih, all this work was easy, because she was
used to doing it.

Finally, it was time for Bawang Putih to leave for home. The grandma gave her the
shawl.

"Bawang Putih, this is the red scarf you are looking for. Oh, I want to give you a gift. A
pumpkin for you, because you helped me. Choose which one you like."

On the table, there were both small and large pumpkins. Bawang Putih chose a small
pumpkin, because she also had to carry a basket full of clothes home.

"Hm, I choose the small one, Grandma."

"Okay, take this little pumpkin. But remember, you can't open the pumpkin until you get
home. Understand?"

"Well Grandma, I will do everything you said."

Arriving at home, Bawang Putih was scolded by her stepmother and Bawang Merah.

"Where have you been Bawang Putih? How dare you go out without my permission?"

"Forgive me, mother! I… I was... "

"Stop, enough Bawang Putih! We don't need your excuses!"

They continued to beat her. Then they saw the pumpkin brought by Bawang Putih.

"Cut the pumpkin and cook it! We are starving because of you!"

Bawang Putih took the knife and split the pumpkin. What a surprise, the pumpkin was
full of sparkling and expensive jewellery.

"Hah, where did you get the pumpkin?"

Bawang Putih then told them everything.

 "Oh.. Bawang Putih, you should have chosen a large pumpkin! It would have had more
jewellery!"

Hearing the words of Bawang Merah, the stepmother finally got the idea.

"Looks like I have an idea. Ha Ha Ha."

The next day, the stepmother and Bawang Merah went to the river. They deliberately
washed away the red scarf. Then secretly, they followed the veil as it was washed away. Sure
enough, the red scarf was picked up by the old grandmother.

The stepmother and Bawang Merah followed the old grandmother who went up the
mountain. As they walk, Bawang Merah complained about how far it was.

"Ahh, I'm tired. Let's just go home."

"Bawang Merah, be patient! Soon we will get even more jewellery than Bawang Putih."

"But I'm tired, mom."

"I said be patient!”

Arriving at the old grandmother house, the stepmother and Bawang Merah knocked on
the door. The old grandmother welcomed them warmly. Then, the stepmother and Bawang
Merah pretended to be sad and asked about the red scarf.

"Dear grandmother, did you find my mother's red scarf?"

"Oh yes, it just so happens that Grandma found it on the river." Just like Bawang Putih,
the new grandmother will give them the shawl, if they helped her. The only way to get the
pumpkin was to work to help the old grandma, but they still couldn't stop complaining.

"I’m so tired, if it weren't for the pumpkins, I wouldn't do this."

"Yes, I'm also tired. Hopefully, there will be even more jewellery inside this pumpkin.Ha
Ha Ha"

Finally, Bawang Merah and the stepmother finished their work at the old grandmother's
house and said goodbye. The old grandmother gave the shawl to Bawang Merah and her mother.
On the table, there are two pumpkins, one large and one small.

"Choose one pumpkin, as a gift from me."

And of course, the stepmother and Bawang Merah chose the largest pumpkin.

"Of course, I choose the big one grandma."

"Yeah, choose the big one.” “Remember, don't open the pumpkin, before you get home."

"Yes Grandma, that's for sure. We will go home first Grandma."

Bawang Merah and her mother, do not obey the advice of the grandmother. On the way,
the stepmother splits the big pumpkin. They were impatient to get their hands on jewellery
inside.

"Mom, let's just open this pumpkin now, the old grandmother will not know."

"Yeah, let's open this. I'm also curious."

 However, they were in for quite a surprise. Because inside the pumpkin were venomous
animals, such as snakes, scorpions, spiders and centipedes. They were both bitten by a snake.

"Oh, what is this?” “Where is the jewellery? Why did it have these animals inside? Ihhh"

"Aw! Aw! It hurts!” “Aw! Aw! Ouch!” “Mom…Ouch…Aw…What should we do Mom?” “I

also got bitten”

Because they are still in the middle of the forest, no one came to help them. The stepmother and
Bawang Merah died from the snakebite. Their greed brought them to disaster.

Meanwhile, Bawang Putih lives happily ever after. The jewellery given by the old grandmother
making her rich. She continued her father's business and enjoyed the fruits of her obedience and
kindness.