Indonesia
The Origin of Wekaburi Lake
Wekaburi lake is located in the village of Werabur, Windesi Sub district, Teluk Wondama District, West Papua Province. Legend has it, before turned into Wekaburi Lake, the place was a creek with clear water.
Around the creek was the tribe of Wekaburi. Wekaburian built their stage houses on the river stream. They took advantage of the water for their daily needs. With net or spear in hand, Wekaburian would catch fishes while swimming in the creek. It was unfortunate that a little mistake has turned the place up side down with a disaster.
The disaster started by a big ritual held by Wekaburian. It was the biggest event of the year. News about the party spread across the area. Eventually it reached Isosi, a girl of neighbor tribe. Isosi climbed up the mountain with her dog. She observed the Wekaburi village from the distance.
Isosi told her grandma everything she saw. “I must come to the party, Granny” Isosi pleaded.
For her granddaughter, granny approved Isosi’s request, despite the distance of their village that would wear out her old body. The long awaited day eventually came. Isosi, granny and their dog joined the group heading to Wekaburi village. They put on traditional suits and jewelry.
The party went loud and everyone was happy. Dances were shown to public. Guests enjoyed it, crumbled in the dance and joy. That’s when someone accidently stepped on granny’s dog’s tail that was sleeping soundly by the fire. Spontaneously, the dog went barking so loud.
Granny awakened. She asked what happened, why the dog barked. Isosi, her granddaughter told granny that someone accidently stepped on its tail when dancing. Granny became furious listening to the explanation. She brought the dog inside a chamber and tied up an underwear around it.
After that granny came out, holding her dog, and then join the dance with other guests. According to their belief, should anyone among them does such thing, disaster will follow. Granny was well aware of that so that’s why she did it. She wanted to punish those who stepped on her dog.
After that granny grabbed some flame, hide it in a bamboo log so nobody can see it. She was going to use the flame and bamboo as a torch. Granny took Isosi out of the village immediately. “Come, my granddaughter. Let’s leave this place soon,” granny grabbed her.
The light from the torch helped granny with the granddaughter and the dog carved their way to mount Ainusmuwasa through the footpath. They didn’t realize there’s a young man named Asya following behind. Apparently Asya was a friend of Isosi, the granddaughther. “Wait, granny!” she shouted. “Can I come with you?”
Granny didn’t see why not. After that granny’s group picked up their trip. They arrived on the peak of mount Ainusmuwasa. From the top of the hill, they could see the weather started to change. Dark cloud covered the sky above Wekaburi upper course river. Thunder and lightning stoke one after another. Eventually, pouring rain started.
Wekaburian and their guests were deep in their party. They didn’t realize the imminent danger. After a while, the rain got harder and flood occurred. People came to sense only after the water reached their floor. Panic spread. Everyone scattered to save their life. Too bad, it was too late, the big flood consumed everything.
The next day, granny and Isosi and Asya came down the mountain to check. There was no house left. Everything was taken by the flood, some were transformed into frogs and crocodiles. Wekaburi has turned into a lake, later known as Lake Wekaburi.
RETOLD BY: NURUL L. IRFAN
ILLUSTRATION: CAECILIA SANDY
