Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Ritual of symbols, a journey called marriage

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Wedding ceremonies in many cultures have been the ones that preserve traditions and values. The coffee morning organised by the wife of the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, Muftua Melani Musthofa brought into focus the royal Javanese Wedding Procession from Yogyakarta.


The wedding ceremony has several stages, which begins from the introduction of the bride and the groom, Notoni, until the last part which is the actual wedding procession called Panggih. What was showcased was the Panggih ceremony, where the bride and the groom finally meet for the first time after the matrimony.


The ceremonies are filled with symbolic messages that have deep meaning. An example is the Tampa Kaya which is a symbol of the husband’s responsibility to take care of his wife. The groom carried a large tray with many items on it such as peanuts, soybean, corn kernels, coins and cooking spices. While receiving the tray the bride has to make sure she does not spill down. The bride would usually then hand it over to her mother because it has to be one of the most trusted persons.


There were rituals that conveyed the husband’s role to work and protect the family and overcome hindrances during the journey to achieve happiness and to carry on family’s good reputation, as well as the importance of husband and wife being on equal position. The breaking of the egg by the couple indicates the hope that the couple will be bestowed with children.


The groom is given a plate of yellow rice out of which he makes three balls symbolising the process of uniting man and wife into a family and uniting the two families together. This part of the ceremony is called Dhahar Kilmah.


Ngunjuk Toya Wening is when the couple drinks plain water. Water is a symbol of purity and transparency, which stands for the couple’s promise to be honest and not to lie to each other.


The Sungkeman has the couple expressing love to their parents and also asking for their forgiveness and blessings.


Even the makeup or the adornment has meaning and this is called Paeng Ageng. It holds high philosophical values — an intriguing pattern is Panunggul which is placed at the top of the Citak (a small mark placed on the upbend of the nose and between the eyebrows made from leaf). Pannunggal is a triangle shape added with a dragonfly shape ornament. The dragon fly is a symbol of dexterity.


The eyebrows are drawn to shape a deer horn to symbolise agility and steadfastness in handling household matters.


The symbols do not end here. Moving on to hair and jewellery — the fragrance of flowers especially jasmine and pandan flowers are meant as a hope that the bride would give a good reputation for the family, and the jasmine has a special significance as it is to symbolise a sincere heart to take the marriage ceremony.


As for the ornaments the hair accessories in a shape of flower stem is symbolic of the sun that enlightens the world and the five pieces also indicates the five prayer times in Islam.


Pethat — a golden comb with a mountain shape placed at the hair bun is a symbol of sacredness. Kalung Sungsun is a three-set of necklace, symbolising three stages of human life, birth — marriage — death and also three realms of life from Javanese conception. The Gelang Binggel Kana is a round bracelet symbolises timeless devotion.


The dragon is represented too and it is on the upper arm bracelet called Kelat Bahu and the dragon represents a harmony between emotion and rational thinking that generate the will to live.


A small comb named Centhung is placed at the side of the hair with the shape of a gate symbolising the readiness to enter the gate of new life.


The rings on the fingers are also reminders of code of conduct — Cincin — the thumb ring represents eagerness to work honestly, the little finger for eagerness to be agile and diligent and the ring finger to have the keenness speak softly with good manners.


These are the traditional values and expectations that can still be conveyed to the bride and the groom through age old customs filled with wisdom.


Lakshmi Kothaneth


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