An Indonesian cultural parade led by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Sunday closed the week-long traditional ngunduh mantu (welcoming an in-law) ceremony for his daughter, Kahiyang Ayu boru Siregar, and her husband Bobby Afif Nasution in Medan.

The vibrant, colorful parade that displayed the country’s cultural diversity was attended by the families of the married couple, government officials, artists and Jokowi’s supporting volunteers.

Thousands of people from North Sumatra and other provinces across Indonesia as well as foreign visitors enthusiastically welcomed the 700-meter long procession of traditional performances and ethnic clothing displayed along a 2.6-kilometer stretch of road in Medan.

A number of Cabinet ministers who attended the event praised the traditional procession, which they said exhibited Indonesia’s cultural diversity.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the ceremony reflected the richness of Indonesia’s cultures.

“Indonesia’s cultural diversity was clearly displayed in the ceremonies to honor Kahiyang and Bobby’s marriage. Unlike the wedding ceremony for Gibran and his wife, who are both Surakartans, two different cultures united in this marriage,” said Luhut on the sidelines of the ngunduh mantu reception in Medan on Sunday, referring to the wedding of Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Selvi Ananda in 2015.

Meanwhile, Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendi said through his daughter’s wedding and ngunduh mantu ceremonies, Jokowi had shown the importance of culture. “The traditional ceremonies to celebrate the President’s daughter’s marriage could help revive Indonesia’s cultures.”

“These ceremonies have high cultural value,” Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.

Thousands of guests from all elements of society, including kings of kingdoms from across Indonesia, attended the ngunduh mantu reception, which was held at the groom’s parents’ house in Bukit Hijau regency in Medan.

Nusantara Kingdoms Communications Forum chairman Pangeran Raja Adipati (PRA) Arief Natadiningrat said the union of the couple who come from two different cultural backgrounds, namely Javanese and Batak Mandailing, could serve as an example for all Indonesia people that if they wanted to build a family with a person from a different cultural background, they no longer needed to be prevented by aspects related to customs, traditions and cultures because marriage was a matter of how two people could find happiness together.

“It’s a really good example of the unification of two cultures, Javanese and Batak Mandailing,” said Arief, who is also Sultan Sepuh XIV of the Kasepuhan Kingdom in Cirebon, West Java.

A day before the ngunduh mantu reception, Kahiyang and Bobby received Mandailing customary titles. Bobby was granted the title of “Sutan Porang Gunung Baringin Naposo,” while Kahiyang received the title “Namora Pinayongan Kasayangan.” Mandailing kings from South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, granted the couple the customary titles because Bobby is a descendant of King Gunung Baringin Nasution from the regency.

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana witnessed the Mandailing customary title granting ceremony. During the ceremony, Jokowi spoke in the Batak language to advise Kahiyang and Bobby on four marriage principles.

The first principle was hangoluan teas hamatean, which means that to live happily, a married couple must be respectful and polite to each other. Second, they must be suan tobu di bibir dohot di ate-ate, or ensure that they are sweet not only on the lips but also in the heart.

Third, they must uphold the principle of tangi di siluluton, inte di siriaon, which means that if something bad happens in their families, they must strive to come and help even if they are not asked to do so.

The last principle was bahat disabur sabi, anso adong salongon, which means they will not harvest if they do not cultivate.

Without any hesitation, Jokowi and Iriana, together with Bobby and Kahiyang, performed a tor-tor dance, often called manortor, a traditional Mandailing dance.

“I learned the tor-tor dance in only one day and now I know how to perform it. It’s part of our customs and traditions, so we should follow it,” said Jokowi, smiling.

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