A Description “Tradition Marriage Ceremony in Batak Mandailing“

Abstract

This paper describes the Mandailing Batak traditional wedding ceremony which is rich in cultural values and beliefs of the Mandailing Batak community. The marriage process involves a series of steps and rituals that have symbolic meaning and illustrate the social structure and role of families in their society. The wedding ceremony is also a platform to strengthen social relations between the two families involved and maintain generational continuity. This research applies theories of interrelatedness with belief and culture, togetherness and unity, symbolism and myth, family roles and structures, and generational continuity in understanding the Mandailing Batak traditional marriage process. Through this research, it is hoped that it can provide a deeper understanding of the cultural values and traditions upheld by the Mandailing Batak community and enrich knowledge about cultural diversity in Indonesia.