#week2 #LESSON |Mystical Langkawi*MAHSURI* |

Its been so many years since we last set foot in this island, much like the most of us we suspect. Most of us would remember the island of Langkawi as the most accesible tourist destination in the Peninsula and even though that the place have gone through a bit of slump in many years before, it seems that the island has seen much improvements in the interest of the public going there.

 

For those that are not aware of the history of this island, it was thought at one point of time that the island itself was cursed for 7 generations because of accusation of a fair maiden that literally made the island destitute. 

However through time the island was transformed into one of  Malaysia’s must see eco-travel destination in the country and have never looked back since. 

 DID YOU KNOW ??

MAHSURI’s TALE.

Long story short that she was a beauty that once lived in the island and was executed because of unfair accusation of adultery by jealous neighbors. On her dying breath, she cursed that the island will be nothing more than a destitute land for 7 generations after her. Interesting enough that they actually found her 7th fabled descendant through research of her background that was allegedly was to break the curse that was placed upon the island. Going by the name of Wan Aishah, she is actually a Thai native from Phuket was brought back to visit the island and since then, the island has seen vast improvements in the tourism and business for the people there. True story.  

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LEGEND : 

Mahsuri was the daughter of a couple who moved from their native PHUKET to the island of Langkawi in search of a better life. She was the most beautiful in all of LANGKAWI and married the warrior Wan Darus. 

As was required of him, her husband had to go to war, leaving Mahsuri behind to fend for herself. It was during this time that Mahsuri befriended a young man named Deraman. The village chief’s wife was jealous of Mahsuri’s beauty. She spread a rumour that Mahsuri was unfaithful and was having an affair with Deraman in the absence of Wan Darus. 

Eventually the rumours grew strong enough that the villagers openly accused her of adultery. Mahsuri pleaded her innocence, but no one believed her.

Mahsuri was to be tied to a tree (or pole) and stabbed to death but it didn’t work. After every execution attempt failed, Mahsuri told them to kill her with her family’s KRIS. 

When she was stabbed, white blood flowed from the wound, signifying her innocence. Some birds flew above her to cover her body. With her dying breath, Mahsuri cursed Langkawi to have seven generations of bad luck. The kingdom was soon taken over by SIAM. 

The villagers at Padang Mat Sirat burned their own paddy fields rather than let them fall into the hands of the Siamese.

 IMPACT : 

 Many locals of LANGKAWI believe the legend to be true, citing the decades of failed crops that followed Mahsuri’s death. Langkawi was also attacked by Siam numerous times, the last invasion taking place in 1821. 

The field which was torched by the farmers is still known as Beras Terbakar or “burnt rice”. It is only at the end of the 20th century, after the seven generations have supposedly come to pass, that LANGKAWI began to prosper as a tourist destination. 

The descendants of Mahsuri continue to live in PHUKET, Thailand, and have on occasion returned to Langkawi to visit her tomb.Among them was Sirintra Yayee , also known as Wan Aishah Wan Nawawi, who came into the spotlight during her visit to KEDAH in 2000.

 

Stay tuned, 

 parallelismmm