Just as the Indian and Pacific Oceans border Indonesia, so the mayang sari and mangle susun flower garlands also frame the face of a Sundanese bride in a siger style bridal attire from West Java. These garlands are just a few among many made of either jasmine or tuberose that complete the siger sekar suhun crown, a symbol of the bride’s wisdom, honor, and dignity.
The mayang sari, placed behind the left ear, does not reach the shoulder, symbolizing hope for a marriage free of conflict. Meanwhile, from behind the right ear, the mangle susun extends down to the waist, representing orderliness when carrying out household work.
The pinti flower headband atop the traditional hair bun represents purity, and is where the intricately designed kembang goyang hair sticks are placed. There are seven hair sticks in total, a reminder to be kind each and every day.
Of these, five kembang goyang are arranged facing forward, while the remaining two face the opposite direction. This is to capture the bride’s beauty from every angle, but also carries a deeper meaning: a hope for the future as the bride enters the next phase of her life, and to always respect the lessons learnt from her past.
