Folklore And Fairy Tales

The Origin of Banyuwangi City

In ancient times, in the eastern tip of the island of Java there was a kingdom called Sindurejo led by a fair and wise king named Raden Banterang. One day, Raden Banterang and his guards went into the forest to hunt. On the way, he suddenly saw a deer. Without a second thought, Raden Banterang immediately chased and tried to catch the antelope.

Raden Banterang continued to pursue the antelope into the forest. However, he lost the antelope and it dawned on him that he had been separated from his entourage of bodyguards. Then he saw a very clear river. He intends to

rest awhile. Suddenly from behind appeared a very beautiful female figure. Raden Banterang was shocked, he thought the woman was the forest guard, but he ventured to get closer. “ Who exactly are you and where are you from?” ask Raden Banterang. “My name is Surati, I am a princess from Klungkung” kingdom replied the woman. “ What are you doing in this forest by yourself?” ask Raden Banterang. “I went to this forest to save myself. My father was killed in battle” Surati said.

Hearing Surati's explanation, Raden Banterang felt pity and brought him back to the kingdom. Because of Surati's beauty, Raden Banterang felt in love with her and wanted to marry her. They eventually married and lived happily.

One day, Princess Surati went outside the palace alone. In the middle of the road he meets a man dressed in shabby and ragged camping who suddenly calls his name. He was very surprised. It turned out that the man was her brother, Rupaksa. The purpose of his brother's arrival is to invite Surati to take revenge for his father's death and more surprising the person who killed his father is Raden Banterang.

Surati's meeting with her brother is unknown to Raden Banterang because he was hunting in the forest. However, one day while hunting, Raden Banterang met a man dressed in ragged camping who approached him. “ O my lord, your safety is in danger. Your wife, Princess Surati, intends to take your life. You can prove it yourself, your wife keeps a headband under her mattress, it is a male headband that will finish off the master!” said the man.

Hearing that, Raden Banterang directly returned to the palace. He was looking for the headband that the man had told him about. How surprised he was when he found the headband in question. He immediately sought his wife. He was angry for fear of his safety being threatened. Finally, he found his wife in the hallway of the palace. Raden Banterang immediately snapped and scolded his wife. Princess Surati was surprised then explained, “ Actually the headband came from my brother, I met him earlier. I don't intend to harm you”. Raden Banterang who has been ignited emotions no longer care about Surati's explanation. He dragged his wife outside the palace and took her to the river.

Princess Surati also resigned, said to her suaminnya, “ Husband, if I die and the river water smells good, then I am not lying, but if this river water smells bad then I have lied to you”. Without a second thought, Raden Banterang immediately pulled a dagger out of his pocket and thrust it into Surati's body. Surati fell into the river and his body was carried away by the current.

Suddenly a miracle happened, the river water became fragrant like a flower and became clear. Raden Banterang who remembered his wife's last words became very sorry for what he had done. He realized that his wife was not lying. He could only mourn the death of his wife.

Since then, the river has become fragrant. In the Javanese language, Banyu means water and fragrant means fragrant. The name Banyuwangi then became the name of the city of Banyuwangi.