Theological Analysis of Manggarai Traditional Marriage Rituals: An Ethnographic Study In Wae Rii Village, Manggarai Regency

This study explores the theological meanings embedded in Manggarai traditional marriage rituals through a qualitative ethnographic study conducted in Wae Rii Village, Manggarai Regency. The research addresses the tension between the ritual’s theological ideals—unity, fidelity, and indissolubility—and the contemporary reality of marital conflict and domestic violence among younger couples. Data were collected through participant observation and in-depth interviews with traditional elders, Catholic religious leaders, married couples, and young adults, and analyzed using thematic analysis within a contextual theological framework. The findings reveal that while Manggarai marriage rituals function as mediations of Christian covenantal values through indigenous symbols and communal practices, their moral formative power is weakened by ritual formalism and intergenerational gaps. The study underscores the need for liturgical inculturation and pastoral strategies to revitalize these rituals as living theological resources for marital integrity and social resilience.