{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1131172,
        "msgid": "a-batak-union-is-a-family-affair-1447893297",
        "date": "2005-09-04 00:00:00",
        "title": "A Batak union is a family affair",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "A Batak union is a family affair Amid the rising trend in which urban couples would rather use wedding planners\/organizers to handle their wedding, the Batak are among the few ethnic groups in the country who still think the wedding party is family business, part of their cultural tradition. The wedding is planned and organized by members of the bride and bridegroom-to-be's families, and no-one outside the family circle is allowed to become involved.",
        "content": "<p>A Batak union is a family affair<\/p>\n<p>Amid the rising trend in which urban couples would rather use<br>\nwedding planners\/organizers to handle their wedding, the Batak<br>\nare among the few ethnic groups in the country who still think<br>\nthe wedding party is family business, part of their cultural<br>\ntradition.<\/p>\n<p>The wedding is planned and organized by members of the bride<br>\nand bridegroom-to-be's families, and no-one outside the family<br>\ncircle is allowed to become involved.<\/p>\n<p>A wedding party is usually preceded by months-long<br>\npreparations, including a series of meetings among the family<br>\nmembers of the bride and bridegroom-to-be.<\/p>\n<p>The first meeting between the family members of the bride and<br>\nbridegroom-to-be is called marhusip (\"whispering meeting\"), where<br>\nthe wedding is first planned. Each of the families assigns<br>\nbetween 20 and 30 family members to take part in the meeting to<br>\nprepare the wedding.<\/p>\n<p>The committee led by a raja adat (traditional leader) is<br>\nresponsible for making decisions on wedding venues, the exact<br>\ndate, money to be submitted by the bridegroom's family to the<br>\nbride's family, and programs in the wedding ceremonies, including<br>\nthe mangulosi session during which family members will hand down<br>\nulos (traditional Batak clothes) to the couple.<\/p>\n<p>\"Every Batak person, even the modern youth, must marry in<br>\naccordance the tradition's rules if they want to remain a part of<br>\nBatak society,\" said Lenny Tambun, who tied the knot in a Batak<br>\nwedding ceremony at the Hermina Hall in Mampang, South Jakarta<br>\nlate last year.<\/p>\n<p>\"A Batak couple who do not follow the traditions in their<br>\nwedding party would be rejected by other Batak people. They will<br>\nbe barred from enjoying their traditional rights until they fix<br>\ntheir wedding in line with tradition,\" she said.<\/p>\n<p>For some people, a Batak wedding party is too costly, she<br>\nsaid. Thus, in some cases, some Batak get married without holding<br>\na party due to their limited budget. However, once the couple has<br>\nenough funds, this couple is obliged to re-organize their wedding<br>\nparty in line with Batak tradition in order to reconcile<br>\nthemselves to their community. That is why some Batak people hold<br>\ntheir wedding parties when they are older and have already had<br>\nchildren. --The Jakarta Post.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-batak-union-is-a-family-affair-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}