My cousin Liyana is getting married next Sunday and yesterday was the ceremony to kick start the week. The groom's family came over for the "Hantaran" which I best describe as the exchange of gifts. The groom party (minus the groom) come over with gifts for the bride which is usually jewellery, clothing, fabrics, toiletries. The bride's family then return the favor with gifts though never more than what the groom party has brought. There's usually clothing, toiletries and more food which nowadays is cakes and chocolates but on previous times was special meat dishes and traditional cakes. After the exchange, the groom's party departs and the bride will normally come out of her room for the bedak-bedak mandi - a ceremony which involves older family members to paste a liquid powder mix onto the brides palms. The bride is now in her wedding week and must follow the rites. This is not followed so strictly by the younger generation but 15/20 years ago brides were not allowed to leave the house the week leading up to the wedding. She only wore white clothing and every day was treated to a rigorous body scrub!
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