North Kayong Regent's Wedding Uses Senganan Malay Traditional Procession

Illustration-(Photo: DOK ANTARA)

SINTANG - The wedding of the Regent of North Kayong, Citra Duani and Yayuk Winarni, a resident of Serawai District, Sintang Regency, used the Senganan Malay traditional procession, a mixture of Malay and Dayak culture, in West Kalimantan.

"We usually call the Senganan Malays, the Dayak people converted to Islam and indeed our parents were from the Dayak tribe. So in this wedding procession, we also use Dayak cultural customs which do not violate Islamic laws," said the Chairperson The Wedding Ceremony Committee for the Regent of North Kayong, Faisal, when contacted in Serawai, Sintang, Antara, Thursday, March 17.

He explained that during the wedding procession, when the groom arrived at the bride's family home, he was greeted with the custom of stepping on "batu telok" (eggs) then soil and yellow rice.

"Not only stepping on the 'telok stone', the groom who came to our village was also given advice from the Serawai Customary Leader. When stepping on the egg, the groom was also asked to bite down on an iron usually in the form of a knife that had been prepared. Then proceed with the delivery of the bride and groom man," he said.

If according to ancient cultural customs, he said, when delivering there was a traditional cultural procession commonly called "Opong".

He explained that "Opong" is an event where before the delivery enters the bride's house, the groom's delivery group accompanied by "tar music" must be able to break through the gate that is blocked or installed with a portal with sugarcane stalks.

The cane portal must be cut. However, previously, both parties had to compete in martial arts and rhymes for the next sugar cane portal to be cut.

However, this time it was not done because of considering the time. The groom only goes through the doorstop accompanied by reciprocal rhymes between the two parties.

Faisal said at the doorstop, Serawai's two best sons guarded with two spears as a barrier. However, the spearhead was plunged into the ground and given a green cloth which means peace.

After the handover of the goods delivered by the groom, the event continued with the marriage contract which was marked by the consent of the groom.

"We are grateful that the Ijab Kabul event was able to run smoothly at the marriage ceremony which was filled with reading the Koran, giving advice from both parents and the sungkeman event. With the marriage ceremony, the Regent of North Kayong Citra Duani has now legally married our sister, Yayuk Winarni," said Faisal.

The event continued with a traditional cultural procession of "curr rose" with the hope that the bride and groom will get blessings.

The "curr rose" procession is an acculturation of Malay and Dayak cultural customs. The procession uses sabang leaves, yellow rice, and ends with a bridal prayer containing the shari'a of salvation for the bride and groom. This prayer is delivered by 3-7 people from both sides of the bride and groom with the hope that they will become a sakinah mawadah, and "warrahmah" couple.

"Alhamdulillah, the wedding ceremony of the Regent of North Kayong went smoothly," he said.

Citra Duani has for the last few years been living alone after his wife died of illness. The event was held at the Al-Iklas Mosque in Nanga Serawai Village, Serawai District, Sintang Regency.