Traditional Minangkabau (Indonesia) Marriage Customs Indonesia is a country that has a very diverse and unique culture. There are more than three hundred of ethnics group in Indonesia. One of them is Minangkabau. Minangkabau is the ethnic group that located on Sumatera Island, precisely in West Sumatera or we called Sumatera Barat. On this occasion I would like to share a story about marriage customs in Minangkabau. Why? Because, there are several things that distinguish this tradition with other traditions. Furthermore, this tradition teaches us about some things such as, the importance of family, how to help each other, and how to respect each other. In Minangkabau, each community has their respective tribes, we called it suku. This suku shows kinship in a community in Minangkabau. Thing that need to be underlined in the Minangkabau tradition is that you should not marry someone who is same suku with you. For example, I have suku names Koto, so I should not marry the girl who has suku Koto too. This is because, suku comes from maternal lineages. That is why Minangkabau also known as the matrilineal society. There are seven steps that need to be done in a marriage customs of Minangkabau. 1. Maresek (Search) 2. Batimbang tando (Propose) 3. Mahanta siriah (Take Betel) 4. Babako Babaki 5. Malam Bainai (Henna Night) 6. Manjampuik Marapulai (Pick up the Groom) 7. Penyambutan di Rumah Anak Daro (Reception at the Home of the Bride) Maresek Maresek is the first assessment as a beginning of series procedures for the implementation of the wedding. According to the kinship system in Minangkabau, the woman's family goes to the man’s family. Normally, the families arrived with goods like cakes or fruits according to the culture of eastern manners. At first some experienced women was sent to find out whether the young man interested for getting married and matched with the girl. The procession can take some time negotiations until an agreement is reached on both sides of the family. Batimbang tando (Propose) The bride's family comes to the groom's family to propose. If the proposed accepted, continued to exchange of goods as a symbol of binding agreement and cannot be canceled unilaterally. The event involves parents and ninik mamak and the elders of both families. The bride’s family arrived with a betel nut with a complete set in the Carano. Mahanta siriah (Take Betel) The groom delivered the news and asked for the blessing of the wedding plan to mamak or mother’s brothers, father’s brothers, and others family. The same thing also conducted by the bride’s family. Babako Babaki The family of the bride's father (called bako) wanted to show their affection with the appropriate ability to bear the costs of wedding. The event took place a few days before the ceremony. Malam Bainai (Henna Night) Bainai means attaching powder of henna leaves into bride’s nails. This powder will leave a mark on a bright red color to the nail. Normally, it held on the evening before the ceremony. This tradition is as an expression of affection and blessing of the elders of the bride's family. Ijab Kabul is performed after a night of bainai. Manjampuik Marapulai (Pick up the Groom) This is the most important traditional events in the entire series of events according to traditional Minangkabau wedding. Grooms are picked up and taken to the bride’s house to hold the ceremony. The procession is also accompanied by the provision of title to the prospective groom's heritage as a sign of an adult. Penyambutan di Rumah Anak Daro (Reception at the Home of the Bride) Tradition of welcoming the arrival of the groom at the bride house is usually lively and great moments. Accompanied by the sound of Minang traditional music such as gandang, talempong, and gandang tabuk and greeted with the Gelombang dance. That’s the little bit about the marriage custom in my village. As we know the people in village are full of team work to finish all of the traditional ceremony. Although there are so many steps of wedding ceremony in this village, it will be easier if we can work together.

• published: 11 Sep 2014
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