Home

Hantaran

Hantaran is a term used in Malay and Indonesian wedding traditions to describe the formal exchange of gifts between the families of the bride and groom. It functions as a dowry-like token and a sign of consent to marry. The items, known as hantaran, are typically prepared by the groom’s family and presented to the bride’s family, though in many families a reciprocal set known as balas hantaran may also be prepared by the bride’s side. The gifts are traditionally arranged on decorative trays or baskets, often called dulang hantaran in Malay communities, and presented during the pre-wedding ceremony or on the day of the akad nikah.

Typical contents vary by region and means, but commonly include clothing or fabrics, jewelry, cosmetics, perfumes,

Regional variations exist. In Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and parts of Indonesia, hantaran remains a longstanding element

In modern practice, hantaran arrangements may be simplified or modernized, but the core idea remains: the transfer

sweets
or
cakes,
fruits,
and
sometimes
money
or
gold.
The
number
of
trays
can
be
symbolic,
with
seven,
nine,
or
eleven
being
common
in
some
communities,
and
colors
coordinated
to
the
wedding
theme.
of
the
wedding
ritual;
in
Java
and
other
parts
of
Indonesia,
similar
exchanges
are
referred
to
as
seserahan.
The
ritual
is
often
accompanied
by
other
rites
such
as
the
siraman
(bathing
ritual)
and
bersanding
(the
ceremonial
seating
of
the
couple)
and
serves
to
strengthen
family
bonds
and
express
well
wishes
for
the
marriage.
of
meaningful
gifts
to
signify
union
and
blessing.