A Batak union is a family affair
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.
A wedding party is usually preceded by months-long
preparations, including a series of meetings among the family
members of the bride and bridegroom-to-be.
The first meeting between the family members of the bride and
bridegroom-to-be is called marhusip ("whispering meeting"), where
the wedding is first planned. Each of the families assigns
between 20 and 30 family members to take part in the meeting to
prepare the wedding.
The committee led by a raja adat (traditional leader) is
responsible for making decisions on wedding venues, the exact
date, money to be submitted by the bridegroom's family to the
bride's family, and programs in the wedding ceremonies, including
the mangulosi session during which family members will hand down
ulos (traditional Batak clothes) to the couple.
"Every Batak person, even the modern youth, must marry in
accordance the tradition's rules if they want to remain a part of
Batak society," said Lenny Tambun, who tied the knot in a Batak
wedding ceremony at the Hermina Hall in Mampang, South Jakarta
late last year.
"A Batak couple who do not follow the traditions in their
wedding party would be rejected by other Batak people. They will
be barred from enjoying their traditional rights until they fix
their wedding in line with tradition," she said.
For some people, a Batak wedding party is too costly, she
said. Thus, in some cases, some Batak get married without holding
a party due to their limited budget. However, once the couple has
enough funds, this couple is obliged to re-organize their wedding
party in line with Batak tradition in order to reconcile
themselves to their community. That is why some Batak people hold
their wedding parties when they are older and have already had
children. --The Jakarta Post.