Khan Maak Procession

* Engagement Tray (Khan Mak)

According to Thai customs, a couple traditionally becomes engaged during a ceremony known as “Kan Maak“ (ขันหมาก /kăn-màak/).  ขัน/kăn/ means ‘bowl’ and หมาก /màak/means ‘betel nut';  ‘Kan Mak’ means “bowl of betel nuts” .

Things to put in the Khan Mak tray may vary by culture in different regions. These items represent important aspects of the marriage, such as health, prosperity, fertility and longevity. Generally items in the Kan Maak tray are ;

11.  The young betel nuts (หมาก màak) 4 or 8 pieces

22.  Betel leaves (ใบพลู bai pluu)

33.  Silver bag (ถุงเงิน tŭng ngern) which contains money, usually coins

34.  Golden bag (ถุงทอง tŭng torng) which contains mung beans, popped rice, sesame seeds

45.  Meaningful flowers which commonly be;

- Calotropis gigantea (Crown flower) which in Thai is called ‘ดอกรัก dòrk rák’ ; ‘รัก rák’ means ‘love’

- Globe amaranth which in Thai is called ‘ดอกบานไม่รู้โรย dòrk baan mâi rúu roai’ ; the name means ‘always bloom’, so the couple’s love will always bloom.

– Marigold which in Thai is called ‘ ดอกดาวเรือง dòrk daao rueang’ , the name เรือง rueang sounds like the word ‘รุ่งเรือง rung rueang’ meaning ‘prosperous’.

The rings tray made of banana leaves, Calotropis gigantea flowers and Globe amaranth.

Culture Note: Why betel nuts and betel leaves?

In the old time, like Vietnam, Thai people liked to chew betel nuts and betel leaves. They were common items every household had and they were used to welcome the guests visiting the house. Therefore betel nuts and betel leaves are used as a gift to represent harmony in Thai wedding.

* Khan Maak Procession

 

When the time comes for this auspicious occasion, the proceeding begins with the arrival of the groom and his entourage at the front of the bride’s house.The procession is lead by the groom’s representative or “เถ้าแก่ Thao Gae”, and his parents, relative and friends also accompany him carrying flowers, incenses, candles and gifts.  The parade will be lead by drummers and traditional folk dancers, whose lively celebrations announce their arrival to all around.

The groom in Khan Maak procession. He looks very happy

Banana leaves and sugar canes are paraded like banners by some of the attendants, while others bear the traditional gifts of the Kan Maak, which includes rice, sesame seeds, Thai food for the feast and many Thai desserts, as well as monetary gifts and other precious items, such as gold and jewellery, which will make up the dowry to the bride’s parents later on in the ceremony.

Many of these gifts represent important aspects of the marriage, such as health, prosperity, fertility and longevity.

The groom’s Kan Maak tray

The Thai desserts to be eaten as part of the feast consists of nine different items. The number 9 is important in Thai society and it’s use on occasions such as this is regarded as very lucky.

The timing procession (ฤกษ์)  is also important, as it will have been calculated to occur at the most auspicious moment for the couple. It is also common for the lucky number 9 to figure in these calculations as well. My friend’s Khan Mak procession started at 09:09 a.m.

When the procession finally arrives at the Bride’s home they will be met by the bride’s family, who will invite the groom into the home to conduct the next part of the ceremony.