Holiday Ayo - Tepuk Tepung Tawar is the name of a cultural ceremony of Malay people in Riau Province of Indonesia. This ritual has been passed down by the royal family since a long time ago.

The ceremony of Tepuk Tepung Tawar is a sign of gratitude for a blessing or a wish that has come true. The ritual is usually done during important life events such as weddings, moving to a new home, or khitan, the Islamic practice of circumcision.

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For the Malay people of Riau, Tepuk Tepung Tawar is a requirement and something that must be done, especially during weddings. There is a saying among them that when you get married, the marriage will not be official until you do Tepuk Tepung Tawar. The ritual is an expression of joy for the people involved in this event.

The things you have to prepare for Tepuk Tepung Tawar are turmeric rice, white rice, puffed rice, fresh flour water, grinded henna, some flowers, and leaves that are used for splashing. Every ingredient has its own meaning.

For example, turmeric rice symbolizes blessing. White rice symbolizes purity and puffed rice symbolizes prosperity. The flour water symbolizes the calming of heart while the grinded henna symbolizes harmony.
The first step of Tepuk Tepung Tawar is dipping the leaves into the water that has been mixed with powder, orange water, and rose petals. Then the water is splashed onto the hands of the bridegrooms.

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The splasher will then take the rice and a mix of flowers and sprinkles them on top of the bridegrooms. Then, he or she will take the henna and smear it on the palms of their hands. The splasher then pray by holding up their hands. After every person assigned to do the ritual finish it, they close it with a collective prayer.

There are meanings in every steps of Tepuk Tepung Tawar. Splashing the forehead symbolizes thinking clearly before taking action. Splashing the shoulders symbolizes shouldering a burden responsibly. Splashing the back of the hands symbolizes not giving up in life. Splashing the palms symbolizing the marriage being official.