#ArKadNikah takes on Mandailing Wedding Reception

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Horas!

Horas is the traditional greeting of the Batak Toba, Simalungun and Mandailing people.

According to Google.com, the Mandailing is a traditional cultural group in Southeast Asia. They are found mainly in the northern section of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The Mandailing society is patriarchal, employing family names, or known as "marga" and my husband comes from the family clan called the Daulay.

Last weekend on the 23rd December 2018, #ArKadNikah takes on Mandailing wedding reception hosted by my in-laws particularly my mom-in-law. Being married to an Indonesian from Mandailing clan, I had a chance to experience the traditional yet cultural Mandailing wedding.

In Mandailing culture, there will be 3 couple sitting on the dais, the bride & bridegroom together with parents from both sides greeting the guests

Our reception took place at Level 5 at Sahira Butik Hotel, Bogor and was attended by 200 pax (almost 40 pax from my side joined as well to commemorate the event).

We, (me and Weatherman) had a chance to try on the exquisite Mandailing attires. With shades of gold, and red were blended harmoniously to represent the traditional colors of Mandailing tribe. The most exciting for myself, is being able to wear the headgear known as "Bulang Mandailing". It's quite heavy but the experience is totally worth it..stuff that you will not be able to experience that in Malaysia.

Me wearing the Bulang

For our "grand" entrance, we were greeted by the Tor-Tor dance during the reception. It was indeed a memorable and meaningful procession. According to Google. com, the dance symbolises how the husband protects the wife and the wife provides harmony, while they both work on loyalty and sincerity together".

Here's some snippets taken during our reception:

Makeup session

According to my mom-in-law, female bride will be receiving this beaded basket with the bride & bridegroom's name written on it as a gift from the groom's side and this "basket" to be carried by the bride during the wedding ceremony.