Have you ever wondered if there are any Indonesian wedding traditions so far? As a multicultural country, Indonesia contains many tribes that giving the richest different cultures including wedding traditions.
Most tribes bring their iconic tradition, which brings sacred to every ceremonial of Indonesian wedding traditions. Commonly, the ceremony not only brings the culture but is also complete with their traditional clothes, songs, and musical instrument to the party.
If you are wondering what kind of Indonesian wedding traditions are, here we have some of them on the list below. Most of them are held in different regions as the authentic cultures of Indonesia.
Let’s check them out!
1. The Proposal from the Bride
The proposal from the bride is one of the most popular Indonesian wedding traditions that come from Minang tribes in West Sumatra, one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia that are asked by the bride-to-be.
In most common Indonesian wedding traditions, the proposal is usually asked by the groom. But it is different in West Sumatra where women should make this proposal. The bride-to-be will come to visit the groom to be for asking the proposal then both families exchange souvenirs as a symbol of the new family tie.
2. Pengadangan
Pengadangan is one of the most popular Indonesian wedding traditions from the Ogan tribes in South Sumatra that has some of the Indonesian most famous landmarks to visit. This kind of tradition is very unique and the family of the bride-to-be would do anything to challenge the groom-to-be to fight every matter ahead to meet his bride-to-be.
Ogan people will give some mandatories things which groom to be should bring everything they ask for the bride to be. This mission is unusual but for the Ogan tribe, it is a symbol of how the groom will face and survive the new life with his bride-to-be ahead.
3. Palang Pintu
Palang Pintu is one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions from the Betawi tribes. In Betawi wedding traditions, the groom-to-be will come to visit the bride-to-be family with so many people behind. They would like to stop in front of the door and give each other Pantun.
Palang Pintu is a Betawi wedding tradition that is held at a loud party with Betawi music and traditional songs around some of the most popular shopping malls in Jakarta. The bride-to-be will stay at home before her father approves the Pantun tradition from the groom-to-be family.
4. Kawin Colong
Kawin Colong is one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions that come from the Banyuwangi tribes in East Java. This kind of wedding tradition is very unique in that the groom-to-be should kidnap the bride-to-be in 24 hours.
After that, both families of the groom and bride-to-be will call the Colok as the elder responsible for their custom culture wedding tradition to find a way the negotiation. After the proposal is settled by the groom-to-be and the family of the bride to be approved the negotiation then the wedding can be held.
5. Begalan
Begalan is one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions from Banyumas tribes including the Banyumas regency, Cilacap, and Purwokerto regencies in Central Java. This kind of wedding tradition will be held in a loud party in which the groom-to-be will hold a traditional dance, music, and song in a parody way.
Begalan is a unique wedding tradition from the Banyumas tribes in which most groom-to-be will bring many household things behind their dances and songs that look similar to cultural performances in Bali. Many wishes and prayers will be said in the songs that represent a hopeful marriage life ahead.
6. Sinamot
Sinamot is one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions from the Batak tribes in North Sumatra, one of the cities with the largest population in Indonesia. This kind of wedding tradition will bring both families of the bride-to-be and groom-to-be to negotiate the dowry.
In the Batak tribe wedding culture, the amount of the wedding dowry is speculated by education level, career, and the caste of the bride-to-be family. The higher their caste and education level, the higher dowry the groom to be should pay. The tribe believes the dowry represents a hopeful marriage to avoid divorce ahead.
7. Nanggeni Blanja
Nanggeni Blanja is one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions from the Kaili tribes in Central Sulawesi. This kind of wedding tradition brings the groom to be to give every household needs including the shopping money.
The groom-to-be will not only give the money as the wedding’s dowry but also all of the household needs. Kaili tribe believes that this wedding tradition represents the sincerity of the groom to be to marry the bride-to-be in honor, respect, and responsible towards her ahead.
8. Urrampan Kapa
Urrampan Kapa is one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions from the Toraja tribe in Sulawesi. This kind of wedding tradition has similar functions to a pre-wedding agreement that popular lately. The Toraja people are already appearing in this kind of pre-wedding agreement since their great ancestors decades ago.
Urrampan Kapa will bring both families from the groom and the bride to be to have a negotiation and agreement about the consequences of their marriage life ahead. This is not only about rewards, but punishment as well for the take and risk both parties made toward their marriage life ahead.
So, there are one of the most unique and popular Indonesian wedding traditions that bring the richest culture of Indonesia. Have you ever seen one of those wedding traditions?
