Barring the Groom from approaching the Bride (พิธีกั้นประตู)
In order for the wedding to continue, the groom must bring the bride from her room to join him for the engagement ceremony. However, before this can happen, the groom must successfully pass through a number of obstacles that are put in the groom’s way by the bride’s family. These symbolic “doors” can only be entered once the groom has proved his worth to the keepers of the “locks”.
Normally, there are just 3 of these symbolic “doors” (ofthen represented by a chain), but there may be more.
The groom can sometimes be questioned and is occasionally teased during this ritual as the family light-heartedly determined whether he can pass through each “door”, but his passage to the next “door”, or or ultimately to the bride’s room itself, will only be granted once a “toll” has been negotiated with the keeper of the “lock”.
The toll for each subsequent “door” will increase as the groom successfully advances.
I am Mr Ben from Sweden. I was married 16 years with a thai women 1996-2012. It was a very happy marriage and we met in Sweden, so I had not neen to thailand before I met her in Sweden. We was very happy but she died in cancer here in Sweden.
Now I have met another woman from Thailand and I like her very much. Maybe we shall marry but I dont like some procedures to marry in Thailand.
I dont like sin sod and dowry, she say she must follow Thai tradition/culture.
Does all thai women want sin sod and dowry ???
No. Not all.
Thank you for visiting my website.
What modern families do these days is the bride’s parents and the groom or the groom family agree to present sin sod and dowry in the Thai wedding ceremony just for the tradition. After the ceremony is done, the groom/the groom family gets the sin sod back. Some gifts may be given to the bride and the bride family. I suggest you talk to the bride and the bride family, and discuss to find common ground. I hope they understand.
My husband and I also made this arrangement when we got married, as well as many of my friends.:)
Best wishes to you and your future bride.
Wow! Thanks for all the information you allways provide uswith Mod. Khap khun khrap maak maak.
Mod,
This sounds very similar to Hindu weddings, not only in India but now here in USA also amongst many Hindu families. The children – mostly bride’s siblings – actually steal his ceremonial shoes and the bride and her family, refuse to allow him near her without the shoes! He has to pay “Toll” to the siblings to get his shoes back to proceed. Since Thailand shares so many things of traditions with India, it is not a surprise. Thank you for the articles.