Hungry for Your Love, a True Love Story

As in Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul.

It is cold, on this dark winter day in 1942. But it is no different from any other day in this Nazi concentration camp. I stand shivering in my thin rags, still in disbelief that this nightmare is happening. I am just a young boy. I should be playing with friends; I should be going to school; I should be looking forward to a future, to growing up and marrying, and having a family of my own. But those dreams are for the living, and I am no longer one of them. Instead, I am almost dead, surviving from day to day, hour to hour, ever since I was taken from my home and brought here with tens of thousands of other Jews. Will I still be alive tomorrow? Will I be taken to the gas chamber tonight?

Back and forth I walk next to the barbed wire fence, trying to keep my emaciated body warm. I am hungry, but I have been hungry for longer than I want to remember. I am always hungry. Edible food seems like a dream. Each day, as more of us disappear, the happy past seems like a mere dream, and I sink deeper and deeper into despair.

Suddenly, I notice a young girl walking past on the other side of the barbed wire. She stops and looks at me with sad eyes, eyes that seem to say that she understands, that she, too, cannot fathom why I am here. I want to look away, oddly ashamed for this stranger to see me like this, but I cannot tear my eyes from hers.

Then she reaches into her pocket, and pulls out a red apple. A beautiful, shiny red apple. Oh, how long has it been since I have seen one! She looks cautiously to the left and to the right, and then with a smile of triumph, quickly throws the apple over the fence. I run to pick it up, holding it in my trembling, frozen fingers. In my world of death, this apple is an expression of life, of love. I glance up in time to see the girl disappearing into the distance.

The next day, I cannot help myself—I am drawn at the same time to the spot near the fence. Am I crazy for hoping she will come again? Of course. But in here, I cling to any tiny scrap of hope. She has given me hope and I must hold tightly to it.

And again, she comes. And again, she brings me an apple, flinging it over the fence with that same sweet smile.

This time I catch it, and hold it up for her to see. Her eyes twinkle. Does she pity me? Perhaps. I do not care, though. I am just so happy to just gaze at her. And for the first time in so long, I feel my heart move with emotion.

For seven months, we meet like this. Sometimes we exchange a few words. Sometimes, just an apple. But she is feeding more than my belly, this angel from heaven. She is feeding my soul. And somehow, I know that I am feeding hers as well.

One day, I hear frightening news: we are being shipped to another camp. This could mean the end for me. And it definitely means the end for me and my friend.

The next day when I greet her, my heart is breaking and I can barely speak as I say what must be said: “Do not bring me an apple tomorrow,” I tell her. “I am being sent to another camp. We will never see each other again.” Turning before I lose all control, I run away from the fence. I cannot bear to look back. If I did, I know she would see me standing there, with tears streaming down my face.

Months pass and the nightmare continues. But the memory of this girl sustains me through the terror, the pain, the hopelessness. Over and over in my mind, I see her face, her kind eyes, I hear her gentle words, I taste those apples.

And then one day, just like that, the nightmare is over. The war has ended. Those of us who are still alive are freed. I have lost everything that was precious to me, including my family. But I still have the memory of this girl, a memory I carry in my heart and gives me the will to go on as I move to America to start a new life.

Years pass. It is 1957. I am living in New York City. A friend convinces me to go on a blind date with a lady friend of his. Reluctantly, I agree. But she is nice, this woman named Roma. And like me, she is an immigrant, so we have at least that in common.

“Where were you during the war?” Roma asks me gently, in that delicate way immigrants ask one another questions about those years.

“I was in a concentration camp in Germany,” I reply.

Roma gets a far away look in her eyes, as if she is remembering something painful yet sweet.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I am just thinking about something from my past, Herman” Roma explains in a voice suddenly very soft. “You see, when I was a young girl, I lived near a concentration camp. There was a boy there, a prisoner, and for a long while, I used to visit him everyday. I remember I used to bring him apples. I would throw the apple over the fence, and he would be so happy.”

Roma sighs heavily and continues. “It is hard to describe how we felt about each other—after all, we were young and we only exchanged a few words when we could—but I can tell you, there was much love there. I assume he was killed like so many others. But I cannot bear to think that, and so I try to remember him as he was for those months we were given together.”

With my heart pounding so loudly I think it will explode, I look directly at Roma and ask, “And did that boy say to you one day, ‘Do not bring me an apple tomorrow. I am being sent to another camp’?”

“Why, yes,” Roma responds, her voice trembling.

“But, Herman, how on earth could you possibly know that?”

I take her hands in mine and answer, “Because I was that young boy, Roma.”

For many moments, there is only silence. We cannot take our eyes from each other, and as the veils of time lift, we recognize the soul behind the eyes, the dear friend we once loved so much, whom we have never stopped loving, whom we have never stopped remembering.

Finally, I speak: “Look, Roma, I was separated from you once, and I don’t ever want to be separated from you again. Now, I am free, and I want to be together with you forever. Dear, will you marry me?”

I see that same twinkle in her eye that I used to see as Roma says, “Yes, I will marry you,” and we embrace, the embrace we longed to share for so many months, but barbed wire came between us. Now, nothing ever will again.

Almost forty years have passed since that day when I found my Roma again. Destiny brought us together that first time during the war to show me a promise of hope, and now it has reunited us to fulfill that promise.

Valentine’s Day, 1996. I bring Roma to the Oprah Winfrey Show to honor her on national television. I want to tell her in front of millions of people what I feel in my heart every day:

“Darling, you fed me in the concentration camp when I was hungry. And I am still hungry, for something I will never get enough of: I am only hungry for your love.”

Herman and Roma Rosenblat

As told to Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.

Visit us at the 1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta, 1st to 3rd July 2011 at the Putra World Trade Centre and share your love stories with us or be inspired by that of the others'. Plan your big day with our wedding planners and honeymoon packages -- and remember, bring your copy of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul!

When There is Harmony in the Home There Will be Order in the Nation

It was World Environment Day and the class of 1999 decided to get their teacher a gift: a document that stated

"Thank you for your contributions in conserving the Amazon Rainforest Reserve! This is a picture of the cocoa tree you rented and in the container is a year's worth of cocoa bean harvests."

She spilled the contents of the tin on the table for everyone to see. They gasped and exclaimed, "Just one, lousy, shriveled cocoa bean?!" They set off on a field trip immediately to find the culprit, the thief -- and there in the rainforest they met Inspector 42. Hm... a potential suspect, but no, he was owner of the patch which bore their teacher's cocoa pod-baren tree.

It was clean, mud-free, boar free and peccary-free, Inspector 42 exclaimed proudly. It had flowers, no problem there. They were in full blossom.. but there were no insects small enough to enter and pollinate the flowers. Where did they all go? They explored the other patches and crossed into cocoa pod-rich zones. It was filthy with mood pools, smelly boars and pesky fly-like peccaries. But the trees were laden with nice fat cocoa pods. They inspected the flowers and alas - it was the tiny peccaries that pollinated the flowers! So Inspector 42 was the culprit after all!

"By getting rid of the mud pools, you have chased the boars and peccaries away and these peccaries are the only insects small enough to pollinate your flowers." "All I wanted was to have a clean patch and less laundry expenses but now I have destroyed the entire cycle, the ecosystem!"

Lucky for him, there was an easy solution. They ripped the filthy fake grass blankets with their bare hands and dug mud pools. Soon the boars and the peccaries were back.

6 months later, the teacher received a tin full of rich cocoa beans and a note that read "Enjoy the harvest from your cocoa tree! Signed, Inspector 22. Ps -- Thanks to you and your investigators, I've been promoted!" The class of 1999 enjoyed their own, freshly made hot cocoa that day.

------

You see, the cocoa pod-barren tree is just like an unhappy family, barren of love. The unpollinated flowers are the family members. The peccaries is a simple secret: appreciation. The boars represent a beautiful character that nurtures appreciation. The mud is a righteous heart that would home a beautiful character and the artificial grass carpet is our ego, that envelopes us in falsehood. We're lucky there's a simple solution to fix our disastrous homes. It starts with us.

We only have to step out into the light of awareness and dare to be ourselves. Dare to be honest to our conscience. Dare to show appreciation. Dare to love... dare to give love and receive love. When there is love and harmony in homes, there is order in the nation, represented by the ecosystem... and when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.

Don't just have a wedding. Build a marriage. Build a family with values that loves, respects and appreciates one other. A marriage consultant who recently spoke on Oprah announced research finds that most spouses who cheat on their partners are simply looking for more appreciation.

Visit our forum on "Elak Derita Cari Bahagia" (Avoid Pain Search for Peace) for more marriage counseling or to share your tips and have your say on leading happy marriages. If you're coming, see you there at the 1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta, 1st to 3rd July 2011 at the Putra World Trade Centre, 9 am to 10 pm. If you live too far or can't make it because you're busy, we'll be sure to post the pictures and update you on what you missed so you won't feel so left out!

Warm regards,

Laveena

Inspired by the Magic Schoolbus episode In the Rainforest and by the teachings of spiritual teacher, Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta 2011 Fashion Show

What do you see in traditional costumes?

Do you have a traditional costume in your wardrobe?
If yes, how many times you wear it in one year?

Each costume is unique just as how one culture distinguished itself from another. Before there are fashion parades on Paris runways, before a pair of plain jeans complimented with a simple top becomes a basic daily attire, we wore traditional costumes.

When Western fashion is universally accepted, our traditional garments take a backseat. Whether it's work or casual, most of us naturally opt for trendy, edgy or comfortable outfits. Our traditional clothes have become 'festive clothes' or 'special occasion clothes'.

Don't be surprise if a friend of yours don't have a single traditional costume because this has become the norm lately. If you ask them why not get one, they probably say, "Aiyah, it's okay...no need to buy, just borrow!"

Time may have changed, but should this be a good reason to abandon traditional clothes which our parents and ancestors once proudly wore?

It's okay to wear fashionable outfits but let us appreciate and respect our traditional costumes as well. Wouldn't it be sad if our future generation do not have the chance to wear traditional attires? If we let this go on, our traditional costumes will slowly be reduced to historical artifacts, displayed on lifeless mannequins in cultural museums.

Take cue from the Malay working women who proudly donned a baju kurung or a baju kebaya to their office. They look graceful and still exude professionalism. A punjabi suit can also deliver the same result.

Get yourself a traditional attire today. Learn how to wear a saree. Discover the elegance of the cheongsam.

Traditional costumes are not outdated. They are timeless, essence of the cultures they represent.

This 3rd July, come and witness a splendid display of Malaysia's traditional costumes.

THE 1 MALAYSIA WEDDING FIESTA FASHION SHOW

3rd July 2011, Sunday
1 pm until 5pm
Tun Razak Hall 2, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Featuring 15 International Models
Organised by Aspra Events, one of 1MWF2011's Official Partner


Entrance is free, see you there.

Happy 1 Malaysia,
By Megha and Pen

Caricatures for wedding couples

In Malaysia, caricature for wedding has not been a strong point for couples. This might be because there aren't many places or wedding exhibitions that readily promote this type of highly creative form of media.

Most wedding couples rely heavily on photographers and the culture for caricature for couples has not been properly introduced.

In countries like Singapore, caricature for wedding couples has become quite popular, supporting their local talent and help make the handicraft industry grow. For Triton Lim, he hopes that Malaysia could also embrace this culture and not abandon their talent even in wedding.

We at 1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta 2011 also thinks that we should promote caricature for wedding and provide an option for couples getting married to capture their wedding moments not only in photographs and videos, but also in caricature.

Award winning Triton Lim will be providing his talent and services at the 1MWF2011 event for 3 days. couples that would like to get their caricatures done please come to our event with your best looking face or bring along your photograph.

To contact Triton Lim in person please visit his blog at http://tritonlimartist.blogspot.com/

1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta Press Release

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KUALA LUMPUR: An event that everyone been waiting for and wouldn't want to miss is here as everything related to wedding planning will be under one roof and no need to exert energy travelling to deal with 20 different parties just to get a wedding arranged.

The “1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta 2011,” will be a one-stop wedding resources and services provider which will highlight the diverse races and their many cultures and traditions in our country. The three-day fiesta, theme "Bringing Culture Closer Together", is organised by Exquisite Impression Sdn Bhd will be held from July 1-3 at the Putra World Trade Center (PWTC).

Promoting the 1Malaysia concept, in wedding functions, can instil the spirit of unity among the people of various races in this country said Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz during a press conference cum launch at the Palace of the Golden Horses, Mines recently.

"This event which is also focused to invite potential exibitors from other places like Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kuantan, Terengganu, Johor and other states including Sabah and Sarawak to partricipate and display their products."

Maglin also advised all the related service provider not to miss the opportunity as it is a good platform for them to expend their business and services. At the same time it also will help promote the Tourism Malaysia and Cultural awareness among the public and tourists.

"The 1Malaysia concept is seen as the best tool to unite the people in our country. Every race has its own unique wedding ceremony which made our country famous for its rich heritage, culture and tradition.

" We are confident that the 1Malaysia concept can be the best tool to unite not only the people but also to lift the tourism industry and the tourist destination sites."

Maglin said the fiesta would help to enlighten the public on the various tradition and culture found in the country. He also hopes that all the states will be involved in promoting their states heritage, products and services.

"Whatever our culture or belief, we should be proud to be Malaysians," he added.

Meanwhile, the advisor of Exquisite Impression, Datuk Freddie Fernandez said that there are about 350 booths in total and the booths are allocated on a first come first basis.

"Our vision is to set a platform of unique sponsorship opportunities to enhance the skills and the branding efforts of the community in experiencing the diverse ethnicities of cultures while creating an increased awareness about the wide spectrum of multi cultural heritage of various cultures that exist in our country."

He also said on the last day of the fiesta, about three disabled couples would have their marriage solemnised and there will be a mass wedding reception for a total of 111 lucky couples from various races on the 11 November, 2011.

The lucky couples are picked randomly based on their applications. The forms will be available on the day of the event.

Freddie also highlighted that the event caters to all peripheral services involved in a wedding ritual such as venues, wedding planners, honeymoon locations, clothing designers, caterers, video production, photography and other related service provider.

For those who are interested in participating in the exhibition and for more details, please contact Jeffery at 016- 2027 666 or email jeffrey@eisb.my or log on to www.1mwf.my.

The Palace of The Golden Horses Wedding Experience

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Planning for a perfect fairytale wedding? At Palace of the Golden Horses, they make the nuptials of your dreams come true. Set amidst the unique setting of the 150-acre lakeside next to a beautiful sprawling landscaped garden, truth be told its the only hotel in the city that you could arrive like royalty. choose to arrive in a wedding cruise, horse carriage, chauffeur driven Rolls Royce or even, if you are adventurous enough you can fly in with their private chopper.

"To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worst, for richer, for poorer, in sickness of in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness"

Recite your vows and profess your undying love to each other at a private setting by their man made beach or have a cosy gathering at one of their ballroom.

In Malaysia, that is not always the case. Palace of the Golden Horses is established as a pioneer in wedding events to understand weddings from different culture & religion. May it be a Malay wedding where couples will be greeted by Bunga Maggar along with a 'Pelamin' fitted for a King and Queen, or Emperor and Empress in their Chinese wedding packages encompassing significant Chinese traditional elements with a modern touch in it. An Indian wedding is often elaborate and is dubbed the essence of colours due to its vivacious nature.

with that in mind, Palace of the Golden Horses allows their wedding packages to be customized in accordance to your liking and most importantly accordance to your dream.

for more information about their wedding packages, log in to their website.

Chinese Wedding Ceremony Guide

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It is said that more than any other culture, Chinese weddings are full of gestures and ceremonies ripe with symbolisms. The marriage ritual is in particular packed with three major themes i.e., ensuring fertility for good offspring, appeasing the ancestors and expecting material wealth.

Getting to Know the Family
The consent and blessings of parents are essential in a Chinese wedding. In order to convince them, few criteria must be met first; potential in-laws must be in a stable financial state, possess a proper background or a good reputation in society. Informal meeting between both parents will be held for understanding and ice breaking. Heart-to-heart discussions between parents usually occur in their children’s absence. When both families are convinced their children will marry well into a good and respectable family, only then a wedding is made possible.

The Proposal
After parents have agreed to the union, the groom’s parents will send a female representative to the bride’s home. The date of visit is set for both families to discuss plans and details for the wedding. Among the topics touched upon is the amount of wedding dowry, arrangements for the wedding banquet and the wedding date. Any bargain attempts will only tarnish the groom’s family reputation. The groom’s representative may have to make a few more visits until both sides reach an agreement. Besides that, she must also obtain the bride’s date and time of birth for determining the auspicious wedding date which is decided based on Chinese horoscopes and calendar.

Engagement
First there is the official engagement ceremony, where it is one simple affair for the engaged couple to exchange rings in the presence of their families. It could be done to give time to couples who wish to make proper preparations instead of marrying hastily. Secondly, a couple without undergoing an engagement ceremony could be considered engaged from the moment they agreed to marry. Chinese people usually prefer couples to marry instead as marriage ties are considered stronger and more secured bonds compared to engagements.

Guo Da Li: Betrothal Gifts & Wedding Dowry
An exchange of gifts will transpire between both families with the groom giving more. If the groom did not prepare enough gifts, he has to replace it with cash. The bride may also receive household items which is essential for her future responsibilities and duties as a wife. The wedding dowry must meet the exact demanded amount as it is a token of appreciation for the bride’s family and also helps to exhibit the groom’s financial capability.

Hair Combing Ritual
On the eve of the wedding, this ritual will be carried out at the bride and groom’s respective homes to augur luck for a long happy marriage, harmony, offspring and wealth. They will bathe in water infused with pamelo or pomegranate leaves to ward off evil elements. Each the bride and groom will then slip into new clothes. A married woman of good fortune must carry out this ritual. She must have a surviving husband, children and grandchildren. She could be the mother, sister, aunt or friend. The ritual consists of 4 combings with different meanings each.

First combing
Continuous from beginning till end, may you be together all your lives,
Second combing
May you have closeness and harmony in your marriage for a hundred years,till a ripe old age,
Third combing
May you fill your home with children and grandchildren,
Fourth combing
May you enjoy a long life together, till your hair and even eyebrows are white.

After this ritual, a bowl of sweet soup with pink and white rice ball symbolising a complete marriage union is served to the bride and groom. The bride’s mother will present her daughter a farewell gift; jewelleries and ang pows as the bride will leave her childhood home the next day become an adult and enter a married life.

The Wedding Day
The Chinese wedding will be a one day event. It begins in the morning with prayers and traditional ceremonies, concluding at night with a grand banquet. Prayers and the marriage solemnisation will be performed at a church or a Buddhist temple according to the couple’s religion.

• Fetching the bride
• Paying respect to ancestors
  A middle person known as ‘Sam Poh’ will guide the bride and groom throughout the ‘Kow Tau’ and tea ceremony. During ‘Kow Tau’ the bride and groom must bow their head in respect 3 times to the bride’s ancestral altar.
• Tea ceremony
  The bride and groom will offer a cup of tea to the bride’s parents who will return the favour with ang pows. The ‘Sam Poh’ is given an ang pow too to thank her for performing her duties. The bride and groom will continue to offer tea to other older family members.
• The bride’s arrival
  

The Wedding Banquet
As traditional ceremonies have been done, the wedding banquet is one social affair. It helps to introduce the newlyweds to all guests present there and celebrates their union. The bride often changes her outfit three times during the banquet. According to Chinese beliefs, it is impolite for guests to leave before all dishes are served. A Chinese wedding banquet menu is properly planned according to traditions. 8 or 9 dishes are served because 8 signify prosperity while the latter bear the meaning everlasting.

Wedding Banquet Events:
1. Speeches from parents, the maid of honour, the best man and even the bride and groom.
2. Toasts to the guests and sometimes a tea ceremony.
3. Cake cutting ceremony.
4. Games in the form of teasing to loosen up the bride and groom while amusing the guests.
5. A photo slideshow or video recording of the bride and groom with the newlyweds’
favourite songs playing in the background.
6. The bride and groom will greet guests from table to table and are often given a toast. The
Chinese have a unique way of a toast; everyone would stand up with a glass filled
with champagne, wine or non-alcoholic beverage and say “Yum Seng”. The trick is to say
“yum” as long as you can before ending with a loud “Seng!” It’s advisable to take a deep
breath to hold the “yum” as long as possible.
7. Depending on personal preferences, some couples will organise a dance towards
the end of the banquet.

The common menu in a Chinese wedding banquet:
Lang Pun/Leng PanShark Fin Soup
A Whole Fish
Sea Cucumber
Roast Suckling Pig
Prawns or Lobster
A Whole Chicken
Fried Rice or Noodles
Desserts like red bean soup with lotus seed,
sweet lotus seed soup with lotus paste fried biscuits, sweet buns, mochi

Malay Wedding

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Observed in a spirit of utmost gentleness, the Malay wedding is steeped in rites and customs that have evolved over centuries. There are a few stages involved in a Malay wedding.

Merisik
‘Merisik’ means spying or seeking in Malay. Representatives or ‘Wakil’ from the man’s family will visit the woman’s family home. Through this friendly visit, the wakil will give a hint of the visit to the woman’s parents. This visit also serves the purpose of observing the potential bride and her family’s willingness to marry her to the man. In the case of arranged marriages, if the woman’s parents don’t agree to the union, the wakil will search for other potential brides. No formal agreements will be reached yet at this stage.

Meminang
This is only possible if the woman’s parents agree about the union. From here on, formal agreements will take place between both families. Meminang can be known as to offer or propose. Both families will meet up to set the wedding date and discuss the wedding details e.g., engagement ceremony, number of trips to be made, wedding dowries, etc...

Bertunang
This is known as the engagement stage. Some couples skip this stage to proceed with the wedding right away. This ceremony usually takes place at the bride’s home. During this ceremony, there will be an exchange of wedding dowries between both sides and usually the groom‘s side will receive more dowries. These dowries are given in odd numbers as the Malays believe even numbers will bring bad luck. The ceremony’s highlight is when the groom’s representative i.e., his mother or sister will wear the engagement ring onto the bride’s ring finger of her left hand. There will also be further discussion between both families and the engagement period will be determined.

Akad Nikah
The Akad Nikah is the most important ceremony in a Malay wedding because this is when the bride and groom will solemnise their marriage to be officially husband and wife. This ceremony can be held at a mosque, tok kadi’s office or the bride’s house. Tok kadi is a religious Muslim man whose duty is to solemnise the union between the bride and groom as husband and wife. He will act as the middle man and explain to the wedded couple the important duties of marriage from a religious point of view. This is done so that both bride and groom will perform their responsibilities well in their married life. In front of witnesses, the tok kadi will say the wedding vow which the groom must repeat after the tok kadi shake the groom’s hands. The groom must say the vow loud and clear. If the witnesses are not satisfied, the groom must repeat the sentences again. After that, the groom will wear the wedding ring onto his wife’s ring finger.

Adat Berinai
This is the process of applying henna artwork to the hands and feet of the bride and groom. This custom is said to be influenced from Indian cultures. This event will take place at the bride’s home. After it’s over, the groom will spend the night at his family’s home or a home nearby the bride’s. There are 3 stages in adat berinai.

• Berinai curi
  Held 3 nights before the wedding, only the bride, close family members and relatives will take part.
• Berinai kecil
  Held 2 nights before the wedding, all family members, neighbours and friends can take part.
• Berinai besar
  The final stage of the adat berinai will be held 1 night before the wedding. Invited guests from both families can take part. The groom will only participate in this stage.

Bersanding
The bersanding ceremony will happen on the day of the wedding, to allow all guests, family, neighbours and friends to offer their blessing to the wedded couple. Both bride and groom will be dressed in their best wedding attire. A make-up artist known in Malay as Mak Andam will ensure the bride look beautiful on her wedding day. The wedding starts with the groom leaving his house to go to the bride’s house. Turmeric rice will be tossed in the air to welcome the groom’s arrival. Sometimes pranks will be pulled on the groom before he could reach the wedding dais or pelamin in Malay. The bride and groom will be treated like a king and queen on their wedding day. Silat performances will be held while the bride and groom are seated on a beautifully decorated wedding dais. There is also a custom to bless the bride and groom. Guests must first scatter some turmeric rice and fried rice grains to the left and right of the bride. Then they must pat some tepung mawar water on her hands and take a pinch of henna to smudge on her hands. The wedding will end with a grand feast where the bride and groom will be seated together for the first time as husband and wife to greet their guests. The bersanding ceremony can be held again too at different places just to ensure everyone has the chance to offer their blessing to the newlyweds.