Rich with tradition, fragrant, beautiful, and complicated are probably the words that describe a traditional Javanese wedding ceremony. It consists of a few processions, and each of it is a step in the creation of a new bound between two families.
The wedding is planned andย prepared carefully as it entailsย many detailsย and steps to do, no matter which ceremony is chosen. A small wedding committee is usuallyย formed, containing close relatives and friends of both families. The size depends on how big the party has to be and on how many guests will be invited. In Javanese society, a wedding ceremony is a big show and reflecting the social status of the families. That is why sometimes families choose to borrow fundsย in order to make a huge wedding ceremony for their children.
Theย role of Pemaes, a traditional make-up artist who leads the whole ceremony is very important in any Javanese wedding ceremony. She will not only take care of the makeup and dressing of the bride and groom, but also the offerings needed and different kind of ceremonies during the event.
Actually there are several variations of Javanese wedding, depending on the custom and social status of the couple. Popular variation includes Surakartan, Jogjakarta, Paes Kesatrian, and Paes Ageng. The wedding rituals will include Siraman, Midodareni, Peningsetan, Ijab (for muslims) or wedding sacrament (for Christian).
Siraman
Siraman is derived from Javanese word โsiramโ which means to take a bath. For the couple in Javanese wedding ritual, it means to become clean (their bodies and their souls). The Siraman ceremony is usually organized in the afternoon, one day before the Ijab rituals. Siraman for the bride-to-be is conducted in her parentsโ house, and for groom-to-be is conducted in his parentsโ. The number of people giving Siraman is usually limited to seven.
Midodareni
Midodareni is derived from the word โWidodariโ which means goddess. At the evening before wedding, the bride-to-be becomes as beautiful as a goddess.
The bride has to stay in the room from 6pm to midnight accompanied by some elder women giving her useful advices about life. The family of the groom and her close friends should also visit her for a while and all of them must be women. This is also the time when the brideโs parents have a dinner with their daughter for the last time, as from tomorrow she will be taken by her husband.
Peningset
Peningset or Srah-srahan is derived from the word โsingsetโ meaning โto tie upโ. This procession is usually conducted during or after Midodareni. On this occasion, the groomโs families visit the family of the bride and bringing some gifts such as Suruh Ayu (beautiful betel leaves), several batik cloths with different patterns, kebaya and makeup, white waist sash for women, fruits, staple food (rice, sugar, salt, cooking oil etc), and a set of rings for the couple.
The groom cannot visit the bride at the decorated wedding room. The groom would arrive together with his families, but he is not entitled to enter the brideโs house. He should sit at the veranda of the house accompanied by some friends and relatives, and he is not allowed to eat until after midnight. After his family leaves the house, the groom is allowed to enter the house of the bride, but not the wedding room.
Ijab Kabul
The Ijab ceremony is the most important requirement to legalize a marriage, and the implementation is in accordance with the religion of the couple. At the place of Ijab, a Sajen (offering) is put. The bride wears traditional makeup and gelungan (bun), golden jewelries and a special Kebaya (traditional clothes for Javanese women) for this occasion. The groom also wears a special dress for this ceremony.
Panggih
Panggih or Temu (means meeting) is the time when the bride and the groom finally meet each other. The meeting is accompanied the sound of Gamelan and located in front of the bride’s house. There are several processions in Panggih, such as:
- Balangan Suruh
The bride, accompanied by two elderly women, walks out of the bridal room, followed by her parents and close relatives behind her. The bride is meeting the groom and they approach each other. When they are about three meters from each other, they start throwing each other seven small bundles of betel leaves with lime inside tied together with white yarn. - Wiji Dadi
The groom crashes a chicken egg with his right foot, and then the bride washes his foot using water mixed with several kinds of flowers. It depicts that the groom is ready to become a father and head of the family and the bride should faithfully serve her husband. - Kacar Kucur
With the help of the Pemaes, the couple is holding each other with their little finger, to the site of the ritual. There, the groom gives some soybeans, peanuts, paddy rice, corns, yellow rice, herbs, flowers, and coins in different values to the bride. It depicts that the husband should give all his income to his wife, and that the bride should be a good and caring housewife. - Dahar Klimah or Dahar Kembul
The wedding couple is feeding each other. The Pemaes gives a plate to the bride with yellow rice, fried eggs, soybean, tempe, and fried meat. The groom makes three small balls of rice with his right hand and gives it to the bride. After the bride has eaten, she will do the same for the bridegroom. Then, they drink sweet tea together. - Sungkeman
Sungkeman is a procession where the couple asks for the blessing from their parents: first from the parents of the bride, then from the parents of the groom.
After the entire traditional procession, usually a wedding reception will follow. The theme of the reception can vary, a Javanese-themed reception is not mandatory.
The Javanese wedding ceremony, like other traditional wedding rituals from around the world, is magical. It is a very sacred moment when two different persons from two different families are tied in a sacred marriage bond. Itโs also a sign of a new phase in life for the couple. And on top of that, a complete Javanese wedding ritual like this is one of the way that Indonesians preserve their culture.
