MARRIAGE TRADITION
OF NIAS AND MENTAWAI PEOPLE
Along west coast of Sumatra island there are many islands
such as Simalubek or Simalur, Banyak, Nias, Batu, Siberut,
Sipora, Pagai Utara, Pagai Selatan and Enggano. Only 2groups
of people are discussed here.
The people was never reached by the influence of Hindu and
islam. The influence of Protestant reached the island in 1865
by Dutch missionaries. On the island of Simalur long before
Dutch arrival already influenced by Islam due to their trade
relation with the people of Aceh, one of long and strong Islamic
kingdom in Indonesia since 13thcentury known as Samudra Pasai.
While in Nias after the Protestant the Catholic influence
came from the south, from Mentawai islands. Ethnically the
people of Nias probably close to Chinese descendant as their
skin color is more yellow and their language is grouped as
Malay-Polinesian group.
The island of Mentawai consist of Pagai, Sipora and Siberut
island. The people of Mentawai until end of 19th century
did not know farming of rice, weaving, and making earthenware.
The influence of Catholic only reached the island of Pagai
Utara in 1901, and a military base was built on Siberut island
in 1904. It is said that until 1915 the people did not easy
to communicate or making contact with outsider and often causing
conflict dragging to the murder. While the people living on
the island of Enggano the most southern area of this island
chain, showing close similarity with the people of Mentawai.
Marriage tradition of Nias people is complex and expensive.
Especially their traditional wedding ceremony is awefull expensive.
Traditionally marriage is allowed if genetic relation among
couple has passed 10 generations. The procedure is started
by the parents of the man visiting the parents of the woman
to request for their daughter be married with their son. This
step is called mamebola. The man parents give 3 pao of gold
( around 30 grams ) to the parents of the woman as the engagement, an aweful amount which next during
the wedding ceremony again will be a bulk number of pigs will be sacrificed.
In return the parents of the woman gives the parents of the
man a basket of steamed pig meat. A week later the man parents
returns the basket to the woman parents after being filled
also with steamed pig meat. After above steps both parents
will discuss the good time for marriage ceremony. The most
important of Nias traditional marriage ceremony. During the
discussion to fix the dates of the marriage ceremony or wedding ceremony is also
fixed the amount of marriage dowry. This step is called fangoto
bongi. The next step is wedding ceremony during which big
number of pigs will be slautered. The meat beside it is served
to the guest it is also like a prestige by showing their status
in economy. This step is called fangowalu in Nias traditional
marriage. After fangowalu, the woman will be brought by man's
family or her family on a palanquin holder, held by many men
to the house of his husband. The last ceremony is a visit
to woman family by the couple bringing steamed pig meat, at
once returning the dress and accessories wore during fangotawalu.
On returning home the couple will be given well grown female
pig called sigelo, rice seeds, and a sword as the first capital
for the couple in building heir life. Since their first born
child then they will have new accost. If their child is named
with Dian for example then the she will be addressed as Mama
Dian ( Dian's mother ), and Ina Dian ( Dian's father ).
It is found quiet different marriage tradition among the people
of Mentawai. Before 1920 when Catholic was not yet influenced
the people, a youngsters of 16 to 20 years had been free in
intimate relation among girls and youths on the same village.
Not rare that a child was born by this unique relation. In
the mess of this relation a couple come to a decision to build
permanent relation called rusuk. When this decision is made
the man will inform the parents of the woman, relatives and
friends informally, and there will be no festive time such
as in Nias. When the man has reached his 40s, and has collected
enough belongings or have planted enough woods, coconuts,
and others he will organize marriage ceremony in a festive
ways, simply a feast at his home called Uma. This type of
relation between man and woman was not exist on the island
of Siberut. This was due to their way of life which was often
leaving their village for weeks or moths to collect forest products.
Standard
wedding packages - Superior
wedding packages - Luxury
wedding packages
Balinese Wedding Ceremony
Wedding for Balinese is more in the meaning of ritual in contrast
to the creation of precious moment for the life souvenir of
a couple. Yet the feast is not less festive then any other
event an overburdened family with busy days from the planning
couple make up guests, temporary sheltering, banquets up to
the praying at various temples. Short
article |
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