Going back centuries, Indonesia’s history is richly interwoven with the reign of empires, dynasties, kingdoms, and sultanates. Some of these still exist today in the Republic of Indonesia, such as the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Historically, some cultural customs were reserved for the Javanese monarchs, like the bridal costumes of paes ageng and paes ageng jangan menir, but in modern times, these specific styles are worn by brides of non-royal lineage during the reception. The jogja putri style, on the other hand, has been and remains the choice of the common bride to be worn during the marriage ceremony itself.
A Javanese bride wearing the jogja putri attire is crowned with the gunungan, a shimmering ornamental hair comb that depicts the majesty of the Almighty, the source of life of all mankind, and symbolizes the hope for joy.
Atop the gunungan, a single cundhuk menthul flower hair stick is inserted, its singular number a testament that there is only one God. The cunduk menthul also illustrates the life-affirming rays of the sun. It traditionally faces backwards, so that a bride’s beauty can be admired from all angles.
Tight garlands of jasmines, melati usus-ususan, frame the sides of the gunungan, while garlands of roses frame the bride’s face.
To protect the bride from evil intentions, a symmetrical diamond-shaped betel leaf called a cithak is put in a precise spot between her eyebrows. The placement is crucial, as it is believed to be one of the mystical center of senses.
