Rasidah HAB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Pg Dr Hidop Pg Samsuddin said this at the second day of the international conference on Malay Culture and Society, themed “Elevating Malay Culture in the era of Globalisation”, at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
The assistant chief of Royal Customs and Traditions delivered his talk on “Adat Perkahwinan Melayu Brunei Membentuk Generasi Pembangun Negara”, which loosely translates as “Brunei Malay Wedding Ceremony’s Role in Shaping the Future Generation”.
“With families possessing such characteristics, they will guarantee the existence of a strong and united family, and undeniably be an asset to the nation’s development,” he said.
The way Malay weddings are conducted reflects these qualities, he added.
“Malay weddings have unique procedures and all are aimed at preserving one’s dignity and that of others,” he said.
A Malay wedding is an elaborate affair that lasts for at least a week. It is characterised by at least seven different ceremonies. “However, nowadays we see many of these ceremonies are combined to save costs,” he told the participants.
The bersarang gundi ceremony is held to ensure that both the bride and groom understand and respect each other. This is important to know in order for them to form a harmonious relationship, he said.
Further, the berjarum-jarum ceremony makes sure that the bride is ready to accept the marriage proposal. At this point, if the woman rejected the proposal, both families will not be offended or lose respect if their intention is declined.
Once the engagement is set, he said, the families will then arrange for the offering of the engagement ring and the dowry from the groom to his bride.
These actions, said Pg Dr Hidop, indicated the respect for both the bride and groom.
“These acts mirror the groom’s sense of responsibility and sincerity. It is also a gesture of appreciation for his bride,” he said.The joy felt during the majlis berbedak (the daubing of coloured and scented powder and sprinkling of pandan potpurri on the newlywed’s open palms) and majlis berinai (application of henna) reflect the happiness of the two families, Pg Dr Hidop added.
The solemnisation of marriage is a turning point for the man, whose status changes from being a bachelor to becoming the head of a family, he added.
The conference continues today on topics related to Islam, nationalism and identity. During the four-day conference a total of 26 working papers will be delivered by 27 experts on Malay culture.
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