Muara Kasih Single Mother
The Seven Monthly Ceremony
This time the Hadinata family residence was again preoccupied with two events held at once, namely Aqiqah for the newly born Sky and also Mitoni or seven-monthly events held that day. In Indonesia alone, there are several traditions from various customs and cultures respectively. One of them in the Javanese tradition there is a seven-monthly event often called Mitoni.
Mitoni in Javanese comes from the words 'am' and 'pitu' which means the count of seven. Therefore, Mitoni is a ceremony performed on the count of the seventh month of pregnancy. The purpose of this ceremony is to ask for smoothness and safety for the mother and baby until the day of delivery later.
Ervita, who is now decorated with a soft purple and shouldered Kebaya. The pregnant woman looks so beautiful. With a stomach that is increasingly bloated it makes Ervita more beautiful.
"It's so pretty, Vi .. lest her granddaughter's a girl this time," said Ms. Tari who appeared to praise her daughter-in-law.
Just a long-standing myth circulating, usually when pregnant women look beautiful and clean when pregnant indicates the baby is female. So Bu Tari also guessed that her grandson this time was a girl.
"Ervi and Mas Pandu did not choose, Ms. .. as likely as Allah," Ervi replied.
Madam Sri who was there also nodded her head. "Yes, you're even beautiful, Vi. Maybe Indi's sister is a girl," replied Ms. Sri.
Just for information, only Bu Sri and Mr. Agus came to Jogja. While Mei and Tanto were at home, they were waiting and preparing for the approaching day of labor.
"Chick is okay, Mom. Mas Pandu also does not mind if it is a girl again," replied Ervita.
At least Ervita just wanted to convey to her mother and mother-in-law that having girls again is not a problem. Because, from the beginning her husband has said that the baby is a boy or a girl the same. That's also what keeps Ervita from having a burden during pregnancy this time.
"Yes is out. We'll take Ervita outside, ma'am. It's about to start the show" said Bu Tari.
"Sign, Ms. .. monggo," replied Bu Sri in Javanese that she would follow what Bu Tari did to bring Ervita out of the room.
Accompanied by Bu Tari on the left side and Bu Sri on the right side, Ervita came out of Pandu's room at his parents' residence. The pregnant woman walked towards Pendopo there was already her husband sitting and wearing purple Beskap. The man's eyes were completely fixed on Ervita. In his eyes, his wife was so stunning. Wearing a kebaya with a bulging stomach does not reduce the beauty of his wife.
The first event began, and the future mother is welcome to do a condolence to her husband, the prospective father. Therefore, now Ervita prostrated herself at the feet of her husband in a sitting position on her knees.
"To Mas Pandu my husband and the father of my son. Today, I apologize to Mas Pandu for the mistakes I made intentionally or unintentionally. In my womb, we both blossomed. Hopefully the days that continue to run increasingly make us get along well as a couple and parents for Indi and his sister later. Pray for your wife to be able to have a grateful pregnancy, and give birth later safely. Thank you for the love and affection of Mas Pandu for us" said Ervita.
Then she prostrated herself and approached her husband. Kissing the back of the husband's hand as a form of respect, submission, and obedience to the husband. Pandu also replied by hugging and peeping his wife's forehead.
That one sentence Scout whispered in Ervita's ear. The love he has is enough to prove that he loves Ervita sincerely and as it is. The love he has will enable Ervita to go through pregnancy, childbirth, even post-delivery later.
After that, both of them did skepticism to both parents. Ask for prayers and blessings from the Father and Mother so that the mother and baby are safe during labor later. Sungkeman always feels haru, not infrequently make tears. That's the way it is there too. They shed tears, but this time not tears of sorrow. Except happy tears.
After doing sungkeman now proceed with the flush procession. Where Ervita will be bathed with water taken from seven springs. Parents, in-laws, husbands, to Pertiwi and Damar also water Ervita. The purpose of the procession is self-cleaning for the mother and baby.
Once the flush is over, Ervita is cleaned and replaced with a new kebaya. Still with a soft light purple color. The woman returned.
"Cold?" ask mother.
"Yes, Ms. .. cold," replied Ervita.
"Living a few more processions is finished, really" replied Bu Sri.
Until finally Ervita is now brought back to Pendopo. While her husband will do a procession of broken eggs. The egg used is a chicken egg that is attached first to the forehead and stomach of the future mother, then broken into the floor. This procession intends that the delivery will be smooth.
When Pandu put the eggs first to Ervita's forehead and stomach, the two threw smiles at each other. It feels funny, but this is the Javanese tradition that they do.
Procession with the intention that smooth labor is not just broken eggs, but also break the fur and break the coconut.
There's even a change of clothes there. Where the audience who came said, "fit" for various types of batik cloth worn to Ervita. Sidomukti Batik with the meaning of happiness, Sidoluhur Batik with the meaning of glory, Semen Rama Cloth with the meaning that the love of both parents last forever, Batik Udan Iris with the meaning that the presence of the baby is useful for people around, Batik Chicken Claw with the meaning of independence, and finally Kain Lurik with Lasem motifs that mean simplicity.
In every pattern or motif batik in Java itself is full of meaning. All of that is done Ervita and Pandu so that the culture remains and does not erode the times.
As the last procession Ervita and Pandu will sell dawet, and Pandu who patronized his wife. One by one the procession of the seven-monthly event or mitoni was done by Ervita and Pandu.
Although the process is many, but they also learn with their traditions. Times may change, but the tradition is cultivated, stained, so as not to erode until finally extinct just like that.