Sarawak Culture PELAH HAWA Traditional Kayan Wedding

Gallery

The Wedding

As observed in Long Laput and in accordance with tradition, before the bride fetches the groom from his amin, four delegations representing the bride's family go over to the groom's amin with offerings.

The first group of representatives of the bride go to the groom's amin to deliver the jako' or traditional cigarette to the groom. A group of eight women do the honours. The group is led by a man from the Panyin class who beat the mebang (a small brass gong). The beating of the mebang is to shield the 'bad noise' from reaching the ears of the group. The rest of the representatives are women who sing the ne'na' that was filled with stories, advice, requests, blessings, hopes and praises. The entourage leaves the bride's amin and the man continues to beat the mebang and the women sing their songs until they reach the groom's amin.

man beating mebang jako brass container

Inside the groom's amin, the woman leading the entourage presents the jako' to the groom and lights the jako' for him. She does the same for the groom's companions. When this has been done, the groom's family gives a sarong to each of the women who brought the jako'. The women hang the sarongs over their shoulders and walk back to the bride's amin.

The second group repeats the same process. This time the entourage delivers the selapa' or betel nuts and leaves. The third group follows to deliver rice and the fourth group delivers the bura' or rice wine. Each of the women in all four entourages comes back with a sarong over their shoulders. The sarongs are tokens of appreciation given to them by the groom's family. During each procession coming and going back to the bride's amin, the Panyin man continues to beat the mebang and the women sing the ne'na.

representatives of the bride group of representatives of the bride group of representatives of the bride group of representatives of the bride