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SINDHI
FOLKLORE
MUMAL
RANO
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Raja Nand, who ruled Mirpur-Mathelo in Sindh, was
the father of nine daughters. Among all the princesses,
Mumal was the most beautiful and Sumal was the wisest
one. Both the sisters were very much attached to
each other.
Raja
Nand possessed a broken tooth of an animal. The
tooth had some magical power. Holding it in his
hand one could convert a watery tract into a dry
land. Hence Raja Nand could hide his treasure in
thebed of a river.
Once,
when the Raja went for hunting he left the tooth
with Mumal who is his favorite daughter. Mumal did
not know about the magical power of the tooth and
the hidden treasure. But the secret of the miraculous
power of the tooth came to be known to a neighboring
king. Hews waiting for opportunity. When he heard
that King Nand was away from his capital, he disguised
himself as a poor man and requested Mumal to hand
over the tooth to him for an hour or two as his
son , the only child in the family, was suffering
from a deadly disease and the tooth had got the
healing powers. Mumal felt pity to him and she gave
away the tooth to him.
The smart king stole the royal treasure and gave
the tooth back to Mumal. When Raja Nand came back
to his palace, he did not know about the loss of
his treasure. After a few days when he went to see
his treasure he could not find it. Enraged, he asked
Mumal whether she parted with the tooth in his absence?
Mumal told him about the poor man in distress whom
she had given the tooth. The king was very angry.
He ordered Mumal to leave the palace immediately.
Sumal came to the rescue of Mumal and promised her
father that she would collect wealth equivalent
to his lost treasure.
Sumal
built a palace on the banks of river Kak near the
capital of city of Ludano. The palace was full of
illusions which could frighten even the bravest
warrior. Then she proclaimed that whoever reached
Mumal who stayed at the top floor of the palace,
will win her hand.
Mumal used to sit
in the balcony of the Kak Mahal adorning herself
with fine ornaments and beautiful clothes. She bedecked
herself in order to kill the woo-ers with her glances.
Many kings, princes and noblemen came to Kak Mahal
which was not only inhabited by Mumal but also a
number of beautiful lasses who were like night-lotuses.
Some of these suitors lost their lives and the others
their valuable possessions in the form of crowns,
ear rings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, belts etc
which went to Raja Nand's treasure and the game
went on and on… |
