Indonesia, Magnificent Country With a Thousand Islands

As the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta is the biggest and the most crowded city in Indonesia, with the population of 9 million people consisting of various ethnic groups from all over Indonesia. The diversity influenced by the foreign nation produces the diversity of art and culture. Because Jakarta has become the hub of ethnic groups, customs, languages, arts and cultures exist in both Indonesia and international, such as China, Arab, Turkey, England and Netherlands for a long time, no wonder the assimilation among them occurs. They married each other and in the long run it generates the combination of customs, cultures, and the life philosophy. These combinations then produce the new customs and manners and cultures. Therefore, a prototype Betawi ethnic appeared in the 19th century. It is reflected in the Betawi art, it has the Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese influences, etc.

The Betawi traditional art is developed and accepted well. Not only Betawi people, but also other ethnic groups are fond of this art. For example, the traditional drama-Lenong and Topeng Blantik (Blantik mask), the traditional dance - Tari Topeng (Mask Dance), Ondel-ondel, Ronggeng Topeng, etc, the traditional art of music - Sambrah, Rebana, Gambang Kromong, Tanjidor, Puppet - Betawi puppet using the Malay-Betawi dialect

Basically the marriage system used by Betawi people is the Islamic law. To whom they are allowed or not allowed to get married with. The young people are also free to choose their partners. In spite of this, the parents` role either from the man`s or woman`s side are very important to approve the marriage, for the parents are involved in holding the marriage party. Before getting marriage the man and the woman are introduced to each other and when they both have agreement, the man`s parents will propose the girl. After the two parties reach an agreement, they decide the time to hold the dowry delivery ceremony which is usually represented by another party, such as the relatives of the man`s and the woman`s sides. The marriage ceremony is held on the agreed day. After the marriage contract ceremony both the man and the woman go back to each their parents (their home). A few days later a ceremony of parents-in-law relationship is held and the bridegroom goes in procession to the bride`s house. Before entering the bride`s house, the bridegroom`s side holds the question-answer ceremony by using the traditional poetry rhythm and it is accompanied by tambourine/rabana music with the welcome / marhaban songs. Then , the bridegroom is allowed to enter the house to meet the bride. They sit side by side for a moment. After that the bridegroom joins his parents and companions who escort him to the bride` house. When the ceremony is finished the bride may come with his husband to his house.

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