OF SOUKHUAN AND LAOS Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern Faculty ...
OF SOUKHUAN AND LAOS Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern Faculty ...
OF SOUKHUAN AND LAOS Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern Faculty ...
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When the gate is opened, the groom walks in first, followed by the rest of the party. At<br />
the stairs leading up to the house, a young unmarried girl who is usually the younger<br />
sister of the bride, bows and pours clean water over the groom’s feet while the groom<br />
steps onto a knife-sharpening stone. The water is to clean off any dirt which might be<br />
attached to the groom’s past behaviour. The stone ‘hin lap pha’ or stone for<br />
sharpening knives is considered as the hardest stone and by stepping onto it, the<br />
groom will have a strong heart. He needs a strong heart as he will face a new life with<br />
his new in-laws and will have to live up to their expectations. When entering the<br />
house, the groom walks straight to the Phakhuan. There, he places the lit candle on<br />
top of the Mak Beng with the help of the Mor Phon. There are two Phakhuan present<br />
during the ceremony, one for the bride and the other for the groom. Once the bride’s<br />
candle on the Mak Beng is lit, the Mor Phon begins chanting. An excerpt of the recital<br />
is given below:<br />
Soukhuan Teng Dong’s Recital<br />
Si…..Si…..<br />
Today is a very good day<br />
This is the maichan table<br />
This is the maikeo bowl<br />
Here there are so many senior men with the cotton thread<br />
There are also rings, bracelets, necklace on the phakhuan<br />
There is plenty of food<br />
Plenty of blooming flowers on the phakhuan<br />
We also have fresh eggs, sticky rice, food, fruits and a bottle of Lao Lao<br />
There are so many people here to witness your ceremony<br />
After marriage both of you must not divorce<br />
Be a good son-in-law, daughter-in-law of your parents<br />
Here we also have to sign the agreement which were told by the local authority<br />
There are so many people to support you both<br />
After marriage, both of you will love each other until you die<br />
You will be the next representative of the house<br />
So we hereby inform the heavens that this couple is being married<br />
And they shall love each other<br />
When the red sun goes down to the deep forest<br />
The khuan of the bride, please come back to your husband<br />
Your mother-in-law is waiting for your and has made the bed for you<br />
There are the good bed sheet and the most comfortable mattress waiting for you to<br />
sleep on<br />
Wherever your khuan is, please come back tonight<br />
Even if your khuna is still with your ex-lover, please come back!<br />
Ma yer khuan er! (All present repeat in a high intonation, “Ma yer!)<br />
Please come back like a blooming flower<br />
- 18 -<br />
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