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Mandailing cultural group to grant marga to Jokowi
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First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo (right) and her daughter Kahiyang Ayu (center) share a meal accompanied by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo after the siraman (ritual cleansing ceremony), a day prior Kahiyang's wedding to Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, at the President's private residence in Surakarta, Central Java on Nov. 7. (courtesy of/Joko Widodo family)
M
embers of the Mandailing cultural group in North Sumatra have agreed to grant President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo a marga (family name) following the wedding of his daughter Kahiyang Ayu to Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution.
Speaking after the traditional ceremony to grant Kahiyang the marga "Siregar" in Medan, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution, who served as a representative for figures of the Mandailing cultural group and Bobby's family, said all parties agreed to grant the President a marga.
However, since Jokowi was a high-level figure and the head of state, a special traditional ceremony would be required to grant him a Mandailing family name.
"All agree, but we need to find another time," Darmin said on Tuesday as reported by Antaranews.com.
Read also: Kahiyang to be granted 'Siregar' marga in Medan
He said it was strongly recommended that people and the family of people who tied the knot with a person from the Mandailing cultural group be granted a specific marga.
Kahiyang, who married Bobby in a wedding ceremony in Surakarta, Central Java on Nov. 8, was officially granted her marga on Tuesday. The bride is set to participate in a series of traditional Mandailing ceremonies set to peak in a reception on Nov. 26 in Medan.
Read also: Jokowi sheds tears as daughter undergoes pre-wedding ritual
After receiving "Siregar" as a family name, the President's daughter is set to be granted a customary title during the next traditional ceremony scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 25, Darmin said.
He added that someone who received a marga and a customary title would gain a position within the Mandailing cultural group. (afr)
