Wedding
Description: A myanmar wedding.
Bringing Auspiciousness: A Myanmar Wedding
By Wyn Tin Tut
Weddings for the Myanmar Buddhist are not religious ceremonies. The teachings of Lord Buddha are focused on detachment from secular desires in order to attain Nirvana, which is a state of total peace with freedom from the unending cycle of rebirth. This does not mean that marriage is a sin; it is a natural and honoured institution of secular life. Therefore, the bridal couple does not make promises in the eyes of an all-powerful god, but rather they solemnise the union by paying obeisance to their parents and elders.
A Myanmar girl has three occasions of Mingalar, Auspiciousness, in her life: as a baby when she is given a name; then, in her puberty, having her ears bored so that she may adorn herself with family jewels. The last and most important of course is her wedding day and aptly enough a wedding is called "Bringing Auspiciousness."
For a Myanmar Buddhist couple, the union is legal if they live together and this fact recognised by their neighbours and society. If they declare themselves wed, it is so. But which bride wants such a simple beginning for her new life? Usually, the modem way is for the pair to sign the marital deeds in the presence of a judge or elders. Myanmar brides do not give a dowry. It is more normal for the men to ask the hand of his girl with a gift of diamonds or gold, or if in remote villages, maybe with several heads of cattle.This, however, is not a strict rule and applies to individual wish.
After the signing of the deeds, a reception for friends and relatives is held. In villages, instead of printed invitation cards, friends of the bride and groom go around with gift packets of pickled tea to invite the guests.
Some families prefer to give their daughter in marriage according to traditional ways. Then, it is a ceremony full of strict rituals overseen by the Beik-theik Saya, a Master of Ceremonies. First of all, he will choose an auspicious day and time according to the birthdays of the couple. Probably he will also advise on what colour to wear.
White, cream, yellow and pink are the accepted bridal colours. The bridal couple will be in formal wear, which is based on the costumes worn at the royal court, with the bride wearing lots of jewels, and flowers in her hair.
Each guest entering the hall will leave his gift on a long table set out front, and in turn be presented with a flower tucked into a thank-you card. In rural weddings, the guests get cheroots or a paper fan. There, without a hotel ballroom to hold the ceremony, a gaily-decorated bamboo and gold-paper pandal would be built in front of the bride's house.
When all is in readiness, the orchestra will change to playing the wedding music.
Tiny flower girls lead the way, bearing traditional gilded cups. Then the groom enters, preceded by his parents. One best man or two walk behind the groom. When the groom is seated on a round cushion set out on the left side of the dais, with his family around him, the parents of the bride will enter. The bride follows them, with her bridesmaids following her. When she is seated on the cushion on the right hand side, the ceremony is ready to begin.
In the countryside, household goods such as a bag of rice, a pot of oil and salt will be placed before them. Usually there will be just a big bowl of flowers and a homage offering of a green coconut with stem intact, surrounded by three hands of bananas.
The master of ceremonies will recite a specially written stanza on the bridal families, with poetic praise of the bride and groom. A long-married couple, who has children, (proof of fertility) will do the honour of wrapping the upturned right hand of the groom clasping the left hand of the bride's with a long silk scarf. Over the hands tied up palm-to-palm, perfumed water will be poured from a silver cup. After the master of ceremonies had recited his blessings, the hands will be unwrapped.
The bridal pair holding bunches of Thabye leaves and flowers in both hands will bow down in obeisance first to the Buddha. Other bunches of flowers are held in turn to make a bow each for the Buddhist Teachings, the Monastic Order, parents, and teachers. Garlands of jasmine, the pure white flower with the heavenly scent, will then be placed around the necks of the bride and groom.
Sometimes the bridal pair must be fed a spoonful of rice by the officiating couple.Then, after an elder has given a speech on the Responsibilities of Marriage, the Master of Ceremony will blow a conch shell to announce the successful end to the rituals while joyful music begins. He will throw on the bridal group and towards the guest handfuls of puffed rice mixed with flowers, petals, coins, sometimes even small gems.
The gems and coins are kept by the guests as good luck tokens. As the orchestra plays lively, loud music food is brought in and the bridal group rises to sit on more comfortable sofas. The parents go around greeting the guests while the newly weds sits with best men and maids in attendance.
When most of the guests are gone, it is time to enter the bridal chamber. The bride and groom are barred at the door by a row of friends standing two by two, holding gold necklaces at either end.
The groom must pay the money demanded, so that they may remove the gold chains and let the couple pass. Sometimes they allow the bride to enter the chamber and then keep the groom out! A cheerful bargaining takes place, but the blackmailers are never too demanding, and the new couple is finally allowed to enter the bridal chamber. Auspiciousness has been brought, a fortunate beginning for a new life.
Acknowledgements
Sincere thanks are extended to U Htin Gyi and Daw Khin Nwe (black and white photos taken in 1952), Ko Myo Min and screen star Ma Soe Myat Thuzar and Ko Lwin Ko Oo and Ma Pan Zar for their kind permission to use their photographs in the article.
From : Enchanting Myanmar (A Guide to Tourism Destinations and Beyond.) Vol.1 No.2 Published by : Yangon Airways