Ponorogo Bridal Make-up Artist Brings Authentic Javanese Wedding Traditions To Malaysia

By Kamarul Halim M Kamal

BATU PAHAT, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- Dedicated to preserving the essence of Javanese wedding customs, a Mak Andam (bridal make-up artist) from Indonesia embarked on a journey of over 1,500 kilometers from Ponorogo, East Java, to Malaysia to reintroduce traditional elements into a wedding ceremony in this district.

With more than 20 years of experience, Fadila Rahmatika, 40, felt a deep calling to revive the authenticity of Javanese wedding customs. Seeing how many ceremonies in Malaysia had veered from tradition, she made it her mission to restore their cultural essence.

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She said that most Javanese-themed weddings held here often focus solely on the bridal attire. However, a true Javanese wedding is incomplete if only the bride and groom embrace the theme, while others, such as family members and rewang (wedding helpers), do not. Traditionally, women wear kebaya, and men wear batik shirts, creating a cohesive and authentic atmosphere.

Fadila shared this insight with Bernama after being involved in preparing the wedding of Nik Nur Elly Ezlieana Salikhin and Muhammad Iqbal Sairi in Kampung Linau Kecil, Bukit Pasir, recently.

Fadila, who runs a bridal make-up artist business with her two children, Meriza Kamela, 25, and Faliha Rozana, 20, stressed that meticulous planning is crucial for an authentic Javanese-themed wedding. Every detail must adhere to the customs and original traditions practiced in Java, Indonesia.

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“For this wedding ceremony, with the support of the family and the bride’s father, Salikhin Mahmood, we had to prepare everything within three weeks. This included the dishes, traditional performances, and many other essential elements,” she said.

Fadila was excited to introduce the true customs of Javanese-themed weddings to the locals, explaining that guests at the ceremony were treated to authentic Javanese dishes, including rawon, kulit lembu, asam pedas urat lembu, sambal goreng and bakso. The guests were also entertained by a Barongan performance, a traditional element often overlooked in local ceremonies.

Fadila explained that, in addition to the bridal attire, the pelamin (wedding dais) was adorned with floral and coconut leaf decorations. These elements played a crucial role in highlighting the distinctiveness of Javanese wedding traditions.

“In Javanese wedding customs, the bride and groom also wear several outfits representing different regional traditions, such as Solo Javanese, Jogja Javanese, and Sundanese customs, adapted to Muslimah attire,” she said.

Meanwhile, the bride, Nik Nur Elly Ezlieana, shared that the choice of a Javanese theme for her wedding was her way to honour the heritage of her ancestors, who hailed from East Java.

“Most Javanese-style weddings in this country have been blended with modern concepts, which has diluted their authenticity,” she said. Elly had reached out to Fadila through social media to bring her traditional vision to life.

-- BERNAMA