What is Pingitan: A Tradition for Javanese Women Before Marriage

Illustration of a bride in Javanese wedding tradition (photo: Pixabay/Edho)

YOGYAKARTA - What is pingitan? This term is probably not unfamiliar to some Indonesian people, especially in the Javanese community.

Pingitan is a tradition that is carried out before a wedding, where a woman is "locked up" or not allowed to leave the house for a certain period of time.

In modern life, the implementation of pingitan has reaped pros and cons, because the implementation of this tradition can limit the movement of women in daily life.

To better understand it, see the explanation of what a pingitan is in the review below.

What is Pingitan?

Compiled from various sources, in Javanese culture, pingitan is a tradition to limit the activities of prospective brides by not going out of the house before the wedding.

This tradition is intended to keep the two parties from being avoided from unwanted things.

In its implementation, prospective brides are not allowed to meet until the day of the wedding, especially for women, the restrictions are stricter, they are not even allowed to go outside the house during the period of mourning.

In Javanese culture, there is a belief that prospective brides are very vulnerable to disturbances. Therefore, women who are about to get married need to be protected from various unwanted things, including from supernatural disturbances.

In addition, the pinch is also a moment to maintain the beauty and health of the prospective bride.

The tradition of the pingitan generally lasts for several days to about a month. During that time, the prospective bride usually fills her time by taking care of herself such as consuming traditional herbs or fasting, as well as preparing physically and mentally for the wedding.

What are the Benefits of the Pingitan Tradition?

The procession in the traditional marriage is generally full of meaning and symbols, including the tradition of pingitan. In addition to containing philosophical values, pingitan is also believed to provide a number of benefits for the prospective bride and groom. Here are some of them:

Keeping the family's good name

Pingitan is considered capable of protecting the honor and dignity of the family of the prospective bride. In a society that upholds customs and culture, maintaining the good name of the family is very important. By limiting the interaction between men and women, it is hoped that this can prevent behaviors that are considered inappropriate and have the potential to tarnish the family's reputation.

Purify the heart and soul

The tradition of pinching is also believed to help maintain the physical and mental purity of women. During this period, the prospective bride focuses more on certain activities and stays away from outside influences, so as to avoid things that could potentially disrupt peace of mind and personal hygiene.

Preparation to become a housewife

In some whipping practices, women are equipped with various domestic skills such as cooking, sewing, knitting, or other household chores. This is aimed at making them more prepared to take on the role of an independent and skilled housewife in the future.

Give yourself time to rest.

Leading up to the wedding, the bride and groom are usually busy with various preparations that are quite tiring, ranging from choosing vendors to arranging various event details. Pingitan can be a moment to rest, calm the mind, and enjoy your time alone before entering a new life.

Avoiding risks or bad things.

Some people believe that before the wedding there is the potential for interference or obstacles. Therefore, the sting is carried out as a form of self-protection from the possibility. It is usually accompanied by the consumption of traditional herbs or herbs as a form of effort to maintain safety.

That's the explanation of what a pingitan is. Get other interesting news updates by visiting the VOI.id page.