God's Choice of Mate

Ritual custom

Today is a series of events or simaan Quran, which is in the form of recitation of the holy verses of the Qur'an solemnly before the start of the marriage of Kak Rafa and Wirda. The purpose of this event is to bring blessing and smoothness to the long-awaited wedding day for Kak Rafa and Wirda in particular.

At the event semaan Qur'an only attended by the family, relatives and closest friends, deliberately Aunt Warti and Om Akmal did not invite many people in this semaan event, so that the atmosphere is more intimate, so that the atmosphere is more intimate, solemn and full of silence. The event was held at 12:00 pm ba'da (after )salat zuhur, then continued with the lecture at 13:30. It was only during the recitation of the Wirda family invited a number of students from the boarding school as well as their neighbors and close relatives. Wirda looks graceful and very beautiful wearing light gray kebaya clothes, complete with a matching colored head covering cloth.In the event of the recitation, Wirda increasingly look so elegant with kebaya shirt continued wrapped in brocade that makes it look elegant.

Coupled with his hairstyle that is carried and covered in brocade scarves that are in the same color as the kebaya shirt he wears.

I, Bik Siti, and Auntie Warti also sat beside Wirda mingling with other family members. We all wear uniforms in line with Wirda, which is a light gray kebaya with brocade, but unlike Wirda and others, I still wear a hijab as my head covering. Look happy and slightly tense face hue that covers Wirda's face.

I threw a smile at Wirda, to make herself feel better and calm.

In this presentation, the 30-juz Qur'an khataman agenda is carried out by 15 teams or groups of children santri pesantren huts who will each cover two juz, respectively, and targeted will be completed in a duration of approximately two hours.

In addition to the study at the Wirda residence, the study was also held at the Imandar family residence by also covering 30 juz of the Qur'an.

In the study held at the residence of Wirda's house also prepared water that will be used in the procession of tomorrow's flush. The Wirda family members, especially Om Akmal and Aunt Warti really hope that with the study the entire series of wedding processions Kak Rafa and Wirda can run smoothly and full of blessing and there are no distractions or obstacles that hinder.

Water flush that has been mixed from various 7 springs are placed near the santri for do'a right, where half of the water will be shared and sent to the Imandar family for the Kak Rafa watering event as well, in the hope that everything will be baroque and safe. Not long after the ceremony was finished and went well. The guests of the Qur'an invitation were given a tool of worship as a souvenir, after they all enjoyed the dishes that had been served.

The relieved and satisfied face of the smoothness of the Holy Quran study and study was clearly reflected in all members of the Wirda family, as well as myself and Bik Siti and Pak Budi.

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Today everyone seems busy preparing for the traditional ritual event at the residence of Wirda's house. Om Akmal looks by wearing traditional Javanese clothes complete with beskap and blangkon climbing the iron stairs to install bleketepe or woven from the leaves of the coconut tree in front of the entrance installation of tarub or wedding party tent.

Tarub is interpreted as a shade in the yard in the form of decoration of yellow janur. Generally, the tarub is installed on the right and left side of the tratag or tent decoration and the gate where the owner lives.

Meanwhile, Auntie Warti who uses gold maroon colored kebaya and pull and hair that is carried is seen holding the stairs climbed by Om Akmal by wearing clothes in the same color as Auntie Warti. After finishing installing bleketepe, Om Akmal went on to install tuwuhan as a decoration on the door tarub that will add to the aesthetic beauty of the eye, eye view, so as to describe the harmonious atmosphere when seeing it while complementing the requirements of the traditional wedding ritual.Dan Auntie Warti along with several other family members follow and help Om Akmal from behind by bringing the tuwuhan device.

The installation of tuwuhan consists of plantain raja, sugarcane wulung, gadhing cloves, leaf randu ,janur and various other foliage such as kluwih leaves, andong leaves, girang leaves, reed leaves, opo-opo leaves, opo leaves, banyan leaves and rice. Each of these plants and various leaves has different philosophical meanings and symbolizations.

Tuwuhan was placed by Om Akmal on both the left and right sides of the entrance to the tarub attached to the front yard of the residence of the Oktarinto family home.

Om Akmal is guided and directed by relatives who better understand the traditional ritual of tuwuhan patiently and painstakingly guide Om Akmal install and put tools or supporting materials for tuwuhan.By following the instructions of his oldest relatives and certainly assisted by Aunt Warti. Om Akmal holds the sugar cane wulung, the gadhing clover, then ties it into one and hangs it on the neck of tuwuhan. Then, Om Akmal took 3 (three) large leaves of kluwih, then installed covering the banana stem at the top under the gadhing clove mounted hanging earlier. Next, under the leaves of the kluwih decorated with otek two rafts are installed widened or in a (stretched) jerky covering the banana stems. After that, Om Akmal put kemuning leaves and then banyan under the banana stem. Then, Om Akmal assemble by uniting the leaves of maja, kara leaves, reed grass into a unity. Banyan leaves and kemuning leaves are installed to cover the banana stem, while the other leaves are installed Om Akmal dangling down. Where the banana stem can be used for the pole is as a place to attach various forms of tuwuhan leaves, namely, so that the leaves can unite into a unity that looks beautiful and aesthetic value with cultural elements that have philosophical meaning in the ritual of marriage. So with the installation of bleketepe and tuwuhan become a marker in Javanese custom that Om Akmal and his family are having a celebration.

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To perfect the flush event, the entire room for the flush procession in the Wirda residence is beautifully decorated. Every corner of the room is decorated with beautiful flowers. In addition, for a thick watering place with shades of white and green.

The time has shown at 11:00 p.m. Before doing the marriage contract, then Rafa and Wirda did the traditional procession of flush, which is pouring water from seven sources, then sprinkled with sritaman or setaman flowers, namely roses, jasmine and ylang with the aim to give a fragrant aroma to the body of the bride and groom, Kak Rafa and Wirda, in their respective homes.

Aunt Warti, myself and Bik Siti picked up Wirda from her room who was already wearing clothes for the flush procession, then I and Aunt Warti led Wirda to the watering place that had been awaited by several representatives of the Wirda family.

Before starting the ceremony, local religious leaders began it with a do'a, with the aim to clean up all negative things that are considered to interfere with the marriage process and ijab qabul.

Only then did Om Akmal and Aunt Warti pour water on Wirda's body. In turns each of the Wirda family poured water that has been mixed with a variety of seven flowers, namely, jasmine, gambier jasmine, good night, red roses, memento, cantile, cantile, and white roses.Wirda looks happy and enjoys going on a flush procession

After the flush event, followed by the next traditional procession at the traditional Javanese wedding, Dodol Dawet or selling dawet to the invited guests.

In this dodol dawet procession, Auntie Warti who serves buyers, while Om Akmal memayungi Auntie Harti who is busy peddling dapetnya.

This dodol dawet event is not really a sale, because in fact buyers pay for it only with crews or clay pottery fragments. The situation became very crowded and filled with jokes and laughter, as everyone including the little ones scrambled to buy the ice dawet. No exception Mr. Budi, Bik Siti and Bik Inah who scramble to buy dawet, to make the atmosphere so boisterous with laughter from everyone .

The event continued with the tumpeng cut, where Auntie Warti took the top of the tumpeng and its side dishes, then did a final round of greeting to her daughter Wirda who was in her room. This is a very moving moment and enough tears for Aunt Warti because at the same time releasing her only daughter Wirda to build her own family after marrying Rafa.

Then Om Akmal performed the next customary wedding ritual, namely planting hair and Chicken. Om Akmal cut off a little of Wirda's hair, and elsewhere it was still in the residence of the Imandar family home. Abi and Ummah also feed Kak Rafa with rice tumpeng , then cut also a little hair Kak Rafa then plant it just as done by Om Akmal in the residence Wirda house.

This Javanese customary ritual is done with the aim that Kak Rafa and also Wirda are kept away from all bad things in the household later.

After that, it is continued with the release of black roosters as a form of sincerity parents release their children live independently. Like a chicken that can feed itself. The release of the black rooster was represented by Om Akmal and Abi in their respective residences.

After the show flush in the daytime is over. In the evening Wirda undergoes the traditional midodareni. Wirda had to stay in her room, like being pinned in the room because Wirda was forbidden to meet until the day of her marriage to Rafa.

The time has shown at 19:00 WIB. And in this midodareni also Kak Rafa and all his family members come wearing traditional Javanese clothing complete.

Kak Rafa looks very handsome and dashing like a prince with full beskap dress plus accessories in the form of necklaces, corsets and also keris. In his family's arrival entourage Kak Rafa is very crowded, also seen relatives of Kak Rafa's family who participated in the tour to the Wirda family's residence by bringing so many offerings or shipments to Wirda, in the form of basic needs, clothing, sandals, shoes, cosmetics, etc, fruits, food and other things.

The arrival of Kak Rafa's entire family was very well received and full of hospitality by the Wirda family.

While in her room, Wirda sat down with me and Bik Siti was pinned in her room wearing only plain colored clothes without any jewelry except the proposal ring.

In front of Wirda's room there is an ubo rampe in the form of mayang twins on display. A pair of pots filled with pawon seasoning, seeds, empon-empon and two leaves of building tulak as a cover are also there.

In addition, there is also a pair of jugs filled with holy water whose cucuk is closed with leaves or bone leaves/leaf stalks.

Then Auntie Warti entered slowly while carrying a tray that contains pieces of pandan leaves, grated kencur, laos, lime, fragrant oil, and other fittings such as mayang jambe (fruit betel nut), and, betel leaves are decorated with chalk, and put it under the bed Wirda bed, so that the room smells good.After finishing putting the objects, then Aunt Warti approached Wirda and sat beside her, who intend to give advice to Wirda before the wedding is held.

Aunty Warti's eyes were so fixed staring at Wirda

While outside everyone had fun, especially Rafa and his family, who seemed increasingly intimate and close to the entire Wirda family . And many young neighbors in the residence of Wirda's house who went back and forth helped prepare food and drinks for the guests who came and the committee who was decorating the stage pelaminan and making twins mayang, namely a pair of decorative ornaments formed from a series of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit from all parts of the coconut tree, the,made as high as half to one adult body.This mayang sheet will later be handed accompanied by a pair of ivory grips carried by a pair of girls.In the event nebus twins mayang or buying and selling twins mayang symbolic fulfill the ritual customary.

After undergoing the last procession in the night of Midodareni, Wilujeng Majumpang. Where in this ritual, each of the family of Kak Rafa and Wirda will be in touch, to let the two begin a married life.

Then, the Wirda family represented by Om Akmal will hand over the gifts they have received. Asul-asul has the same contents as the previous session, namely clothing and basic or daily needs that are commonly used.

Not long after, Rafa and all his family members came home because it was already night to show at 22:00 WIB where the midodareni event was completed. With a clean and happy face, Rafa is looking forward to tomorrow, where Wirda will officially be his wife. Rafa wants to rest immediately to prepare his energy and power when held various events the next day.

After the return of Rafa and his family members, time continued to run and showed at 24:00 WIB. The Wirda family held a feast or thanksgiving by sharing dishes and being eaten together with

guests, families and neighbors who are still there to be literate or stay up late on the night of midodareni event.