Bersanding
The Malay moment of sitting in state, when the couple are enthroned as king and queen for a day.
Also: bersanding, sitting in state, raja sehari
Bersanding means sitting side by side. After the akad nikah, the couple are seated on a decorated dais, pelamin, dressed in songket and crowns, and treated as raja sehari, king and queen for a day. Guests come forward to sprinkle them with scented rice or flower petals, tepung tawar, and to congratulate them while drummers play kompang. The custom has Hindu-Buddhist roots from the royal courts and is still very common in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. Some families now skip it, on religious grounds or for the sake of simplicity.
Region: Southeast Asia