Traditional Wedding of North Sumatra, Indonesia

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:07:08 +0000

Ulos is a traditional woven cloth typical of the Batak people of North Sumatra. It holds profound symbolic meaning, serving as a symbol of warmth, affection, unity, and blessings during various traditional ceremonies, including births, weddings, and even deaths. Traditionally woven using non-machine tools, the cloth features predominantly red, black, and white colors, and is decorated with various gold or silver threads. Ulos has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia.
The giving of Ulos Hela and Mandar Hela is a symbol in the Toba Batak traditional wedding ceremony, where Ulos Hela is given to the bride and groom by the bride's parents, followed by Mandar Hela (sarong) which is also given by the bride's parents to the future husband as a sign of affection, hope, and the transfer of responsibility. This gift symbolizes the groom's readiness to become part of the woman's family (boru) and is ready to serve (marhobas) in traditional events.