Javanese Wedding Procedure

        Javanese Wedding Procedure

     Nowadays wedding is not only an obligation but also a lifestyle for people in the world. They modify their wedding into kinds of wedding party in the world. Especially for Javanese, one of cultures in Indonesia which is an eastern country. Javanese is the name for the native in Java island which is centered in Central Java, Yogyakarta, and East Java. There are many cultures of Javanese such as, wayang kulit, gamelan, batik etc. As well as the wedding concept of Javanese. Javanese wedding has been a new style on the concept wedding in Indonesia. Not only used by native java but also almost regions in Indonesia.

image source: agrobisnisinfo.com

      Javanese wedding is inspired by lifestyle and ethic of Javanese which is full of courtesy and carefully. The most visible when Javanese got wedding ceremony is the curved young coconut leaf in front of bride’s house. Javanese is an ethnic which respects their culture in life, so it makes Javanese was very unique ethnic in Indonesia. Because of this Javanese culture, I am interesting to create an article about procedures of javanese wedding. From this article I would like to explain you about step by step of javanese wedding process. It begins in stage of conversation, testimony, preparation, and a series of wedding ceremony. Let’s check it.

         1.       Coversation

It contains the discussion of families about how the wedding will be held. Javanese need to discuss about all of  wedding concept such as time and place the wedding will be held. There are some procedures in Conversation stage:

        a.      Congkog

It is one of activities in stage 1 whereas collecting some information about status of bride which is done by groom’s agent.

        b.      Salar

It is the answer of congkog procession. Salar will be held while the groom’s agent didn’t know the answer while he collecting information about status of bride. From this procession, the groom will get to know the answer of bride.

        c.      Nontoni

 After the groom's application is accepted by the bride then he visits to bride’s house with his family. It means the groom’s family can observe about behavior and appearance of the bride.

        d.      Lamaran

Both of families from bride and groom agree the wedding to be held. It contains about the planning of the marriage will be held such as where, when it will be held.

         2.       Testimony

 This is stage 2 of Javanese wedding. It contains testify by the groom to the bride which is seen by family, neighbors, and friends as the witness. So, it means that both of family has accepted a marriage.

            a.      Srah-srahan

       The groom transfers a set of goods which is needed for wedding ceremony. The goods should contain some purposes to be used by the bride in future. There are some goods that are given:

(materials of srah-srahan) image source: kaskus.co.id

          -          The gold ring

  Javanese thinks that the gold ring is a symbol of perfections of life because ring shaped by compact circle so it means there won’t be separated. It is expected the couple be able to live together till die.

          -          A set of traditional clothing

The groom transfers a set of traditional clothing to be worn by the bride. It sense that they must always remember their status. So, they have to protect their relationship.

          -          Jewelry

Jewelry is transferred by the groom to the bride as an symbol of the marriage. It means that the bride should shine in every time by the jewelry.

          -          Traditional foods

It contains wajik, lapis, jadah, ketan, jenang which is made from sticky rice. It is a symbol of close relationship between the groom’s family and the bride’s family.

          -          Fruits

A bunch fruits in parcel contains oranges, bananas, apples, grapes etc. It means that they are expected to get a sweet offspring like the fruits.

          -          Betel

The betel will be thrown each other by the groom and the bride. Betel is a symbol of harmony. So, their life is expected seems like betel, accordance in every step, harmony in every mind.

          -          Money

Money is one of completeness in Srah-srahan. It is a symbol of prosperity because it will be used to fulfill the necessity. Sometimes, there is one who creates origami from paper money to make it uniquely.

image source: rudikurniawan763.blogspot.com

              b.      Peningsetan

It is time to exchange the engagement rings by both of bride. Javanese means that paningsetan is the first step to build a perfect life. There is an aphorism “all of yours are mine, all of mine are yours.

              c.      Asok Tukon

The groom gives some gifts consist of money for the bride. It is used to suffice the financial of the bride and his family.

              d.       Paseksen

This step contains blessing by all of audience so that the marriage would be smooth. There is also someone who guides this praying. After the praying procession is done, the guider gets a price from the parent’s groom named Tembaga Miring. It consists of price as a repayment.

              e.      Gethok Dina

This procession establishes the time of wedding ceremony and ijab qobul (it is a marriage agreement as religion and tradition). There is a one who organize date of ceremony and ijab qobul.

              3.       Preparation

The groom’s family prepares all of need in wedding ceremony by inviting elders, brothers and sisters to organize a committee.

              a.      Sedhahan

It is process of making invitation card then delivering it.

              b.      Kumbakarnan

Organizing a committee which is lead by elder with these details of:

              -          Asking for help to family, friends, neighbors to participate in wedding ceremony.

              -          Discussing the details of every division of committee.

              -          Preparing all wedding ceremony needs.

              -          Giving information about wedding ceremony for all participants.

              c.       Jonggolan

It is time for the groom reports to office of religious affairs to get in legal. This procession is also named tandhakan, that is giving information for civil office that there will be held a marriage.

              4.       A series of wedding ceremony

The Committee which is organized in preparation stage begins to decorate the wedding place. The decoration is placed around the groom’s house yard. The decoration consists of Tratag, Tarub, Kembar Mayang, Pasang Tuwuhan(pasren). It should be decorated by committee a day before wedding ceremony, it means to indicate for people that will be held a wedding ceremony.

               a.       Setting Tratag & Tarub

image source: tendafajar.blogspot.com

Tratag and Tarub are official indication for people that the wedding ceremony will be held. Tarub means a combination of ripped young coconut leaves which is placed on Tratag (movable sunshade of bamboo laths). Tarub consists of plants combination such as banana tree, sugar cane, banana, and banyan leaves. 

              b.      Kembar Mayang

     

(kembar mayang)

It is also usually named Sekar Kalpataru Dewandaru (symbol of happiness and salvation). Kembar Mayang is twin combination of some plants and fruits which are placed on brass pot. When the wedding ceremony was done, Kembar Mayang would be discarded on crossroad.

              c.      Pasang Tuwuhan (Pasren)

Pasang Tuwuhan means setting a group of plants which is placed around gateway. It consists of bamboo, sugar cane, banana, cotton, rice plants etc.

              d.      Siraman

Siraman means washing the groom and the bride together. It is expected they get purity from the God. It needs some properties such as water from seven wells and flowers (jasmine, rose, canangium).

(siraman) image source: weddingku.com

              e.      Adhol dawet

This procession is held after Siraman. Adhol dawet means selling dawet (a traditional beverage made from rice flour snack named cendol then it is mixed with palm sugar and coconut milk). The seller is the mother’s bride which is shaded with umbrella by her husband. The buyers are audiences.

(adhol dawet) image source: instagram.com

              f.      Paes

It is shearing beard procession before wedding ceremony so that the groom looks fresh and clear.

              g.      Midodareni

Midodareni is held in a night before wedding ceremony at the bride’s house. This procession indicates that the wedding ceremony was already to be held. In this procession, the bride should be made up so she looks beautiful, then she is given foods by her mother for the last time. In the world of wayang (traditional theatrical performance with puppets) the bride’s beauty and groom’s handsomeness looks like Dewi Kumaratih & Dewa Kumajaya.

              h.       Selametan

It is a wishing procession from family, elders, and neighbors which is held in the groom’s house to get a smoothness in wedding ceremony.

              i.      Nyantri

The bride’s family submits the bride to the groom who comes to bride’s house with his family, elders, and friends. The groom should stay at the bride’s house until the wedding ceremony is coming. It is one of proof approvals that the groom promises to come in wedding ceremony. 

              5.    The last procession

It is a most important procession because at this procession there will be held ijab qobul and wedding ceremony. There are some processions in wedding ceremony such as sindur, ngidak endok, gantal etc.

              a.      Ijab qobul

Ijab qobul is guided by a headman who comes from the office of religious affairs. It aims to get legalization from government. This procession is testified by both of families, elders, and audiences.

              b.      Panggih procession

Panggih is one of wedding ceremony series consisting of some procession:

               -          Liron kembar mayang, exchange kembar mayang with each other is done by the groom and the bride. It expects they should be one in love forever.

          -       Gantal, betel is thrown each other by the groom and the bride. It is expected there is complication in their life.

              -          Ngidak endok, The groom treads on egg then the bride washes the groom’s foot. It means that they are ready to make a love.

             -          After Ngidak endok the groom and the bride should drink coconut water as a symbol of holiness water. Then they should be thrown with flowers by elders, it expects their life blossoms like flowers.

                -          Masuk ke Pasangan, they are ready to implement the obligation as a couple.

              -          Sindur, hanging the cloth on shoulder of the groom and the bride to guide them to bridal seat. It expects they should be brave on their life because a honesty.

(sindur/sinduran) image source: weddingku.com

            -          Timbangan, The father’s bride sits between the groom and the bride then the groom sits on                 right thigh of the father’s bride and the bride sits on the left. So the father’s bride says that it is             good couple.

             -          Kacar-kucur, the groom pours some coin to the bride as a symbol the responsibility of a man.

             -          Dulangan, Both of the groom and the bride feed each other.

  

             c.       Babak Kawah procession

This procession is just for a family who the first time holds a wedding ceremony. It contains of sharing the yields such as rice, tubers, vegetables etc.

              d.      Sungkeman

(sungkeman) image source: plagaran.blogspot.com

      Sungkeman is a symbol of tribute to their parents. It is an asking for pray to their parents because they will walk on new life. The groom and the bride squat in front of their both of parents while saying a request for their life.

              e.      Kirab

The last procession of wedding ceremony, the groom and the bride leave bridal seat to go to gateway for shake hands with audience.

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