Traditional Khmer Wedding (Part III) – The Hair Cutting Ceremony (KATSAK)

After the groom procession with dowry to the bride’s house and the presentation of dowry, it is now time for Hair Cutting (KATSAK) for the bride and the groom. KATSAK is one of the very special moments of the wedding. This is done around 9-10am. There is a typical platform with a colorful .backdrop inscribed “Cutting Hair Celebration” In front of the backdrop, eight golden carved wooden chairs and a long golden carved wooden table on which​​ 2 boxes of betel stuff, 2 plates of betel leaves and nuts, 2 bunches of flowers and 2 holly pots of water are placed. 

The bride and the groom, the maids, parents, relatives and friends are invited to sit in the chairs.

It is known that before the bride and groom are officially married in the Khmer tradition, they must be properly prepared through an elaborate cleansing ceremony. Two singers, usually male and female representing angels (TEVEDA) commanded by Indra from heaven to come down to the earth to take care and give the blessings to the new couple. They bring with them magic scissors, knife and perfume. They poetically sing and dance around the bride and the groom. Their poetic songs represent their enchantment with the beauty of the new couple, and they agree to personally cleanse and purify the bride and the groom to bring them good fortune, beauty, and grace for the rest of their lives. 

They symbolically cut the hair of the couple and shave the groom, throwing away any excesses and misfortune that may have lingered. The new couple is also perfumed. The hair cutting is to prepare the bride and groom for their life as a married couple, their hair is symbolically cut, representing a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband and wife. This session makes a lot of people here so happy and laugh because of the performers’ comic gestures and words.

At the conclusion of this visit, the Teveda return to their Realm of Heaven, the home of the gods. Then consecutively the parents of both sides and close relatives take their turn to cut the hair, perfume and give the blessings and well-wishes the young couple happiness, prosperity, and longevity.