BATAK TRADITIONAL WEDDING

On Saturday we went to a traditional Batak wedding.  We did not know the couple, but President Jensen who had served previously as a mission president in Indonesia knew the family well, so we were invited.   It was a very interesting cultural experience. 

The Batak people are a tribe of people that originally come from the Northern part of the island of Sumatra.  Their weddings are very elaborate. In fact, this wedding and the invitation were the most extravagant I have ever seen. 

When we arrived at the reception hall we were taken to a private room.  We soon realized what an honor that was, as the room was cool and quiet.  When we heard the announcement that the processional was going to begin we were able to peek over the stairway as the bride and groom came through the crowd of people. The women at the wedding were dressed in beautiful bright outfits. Unfortunately, I (Eileen) just had missionary clothes and fairly underdressed.  The bride was gorgeous, with elaborate makeup, her hair done up with fresh flowers wound into her hair, and a lacy dress on.  The sister of the bride (who we did not know, but was dressed in the most sophistecated dress I have ever seen) pulled us to the head of the procession, and whispered in my ear that 1500 people had been invited to the reception. We then joined the procession of people walking to the front of the hall. There were vast tables of food set up.  The bride and groom walked to the front where their parents joined them.  This was a Christian wedding and a man was singing Christian songs with a lot of Hallelujahs and Amens during the whole procession. 

Apparently, everything must be done very orderly at a Batak wedding.  The family is seated exactly according to how close they are to the immediate family.  Within the families they are seated by age.  When the water buffalo is served complete with head and tail, the portion you get is determined on what status you have with the tribe.  The most important standing gets the head.  There were two axes on the bottom of the water buffalo to help with serving. 

While the singing was going on people lined up in a very organized way and danced up and down the aisles to the couple. They had colorful bags of rice on their heads, which was then poured into a bigger bag to give as a gift symbolizing fertility to the new couple. This event was planned to go on for a period of 4-5 hours.  It was extremely warm in the room and I was grateful when we were taken up to our small air conditioned room with our private buffet where the bride and groom visited us individually.

On our way out, we had the typical problem with parking.  Since there is not enough parking spots in most public places in Indonesia, people will park in front of other’s cars and block them in.  No problem.  Cars are parked and left in neutral. That way if somebody needs to move it they can. The guys just pushed the cars out of the way and we got our car out and left.  We have also seen this done in shopping mall parking lots. 

SIGN HERE PLEASE-I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THE COLOR SCHEME

FROM THE STAIRWAY

AFTER THE PROCESSION

DANCERS

FAMILY LINE

FRONT END OF THE BUFFALO BEING PREPARED

BACK END OF BUFFALO, SAUCES BELOW

PICTURE WITH THE BRIDE AND GROOM

THE BRIDE'S DRESS WAS VERY ORNATE

ELDER SUBANDRIYO PROTECTING HIS NICE CLOTHES

GOTTA GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT SOMEHOW