Abil Septian Ramadan (01)
2.
Anggi Windu Nugraha (05)
3.
Delya Ryan Florencia (13)
4.
Mareta Divana Sekar (24)
In a small village in Sambit, Ponorogo, there
lived a beautiful young girl named Cinderella. She was kind-hearted, gentle,
and skilled at making lanterns from bamboo and paper. But her life was full of
hardship. Her mother had passed away, and her father had remarried a wealthy
but arrogant woman. Cinderella’s two stepsisters constantly mocked her and forced
her to do all the household chores, while they enjoyed themselves at the Sambit
market.
Cinderella often escaped to the bamboo garden
behind her house, talking to birds and gazing at the stars. She dreamed of one
day participating in the Sambit Lantern Festival, famous throughout Ponorogo
for thousands of lanterns floating into the sky alongside magnificent Reog
performances.
The Festival That Changed Everything
One day, an announcement came from the
village hall: this year’s Lantern Festival would select the most creative
lantern, and its creator would be invited to perform at a regional arts
festival. Her stepsisters were thrilled and began preparing, but Cinderella’s
stepmother forbade her from joining.
On the night before the festival, Cinderella
sat by the Keyang River, crying. Suddenly, a soft light appeared from the sky—a
Lantern Fairy! The glowing figure spoke,
“Cinderella, your heart is pure and kind. I will help you, but
remember, this magic will last only until midnight.”
With the fairy’s touch, Cinderella’s rags
transformed into a sparkling gown, and her simple bamboo lantern became a
giant, magical lantern that could float and dance in the air, moving like a
miniature Reog!
A Spectacular Performance
When the festival began, everyone was amazed
by Cinderella’s floating lantern, glowing in rainbow colors and moving to the
rhythm of gamelan music. Even the prince from a neighboring district, who had
come to watch the festival, was captivated by her beauty and courage.
But just as the clock struck midnight, the
magical lantern began to fade. Panicked, Cinderella ran home, leaving behind a
single small lantern in the town square.
The Unexpected Twist
The next day, the prince searched for the
owner of the small lantern. Her stepsisters tried to claim it, but the lantern
only glowed when Cinderella touched it. Everyone was astonished and wanted her
to live in the palace.
Yet Cinderella surprised everyone:
“Thank you, but I wish to stay in Sambit. I want to teach the village
children how to make lanterns and preserve our culture. That is the greatest
gift for me.”
The prince smiled and said, “Then I will come often to learn and help.”
From that day forward, the Sambit Lantern
Festival became famous throughout Ponorogo, and Cinderella was known as the girl
who combined magic with courage and preserved local traditions.
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