Traditional ceremony of Lamaran is aimed to reveal whether a woman has been engaged to a man or not. The articles prepared by the man’s family include: a set of woman gown and a (gold) ring.

The process involves the man’s family formally asks whether the woman has been engaged to another man or not (and if not, as it should be, then proposes the woman to be married by the man).The question is proposed to the woman’s parents. If the parents are still alive, this process is called "legan", but if the parents have died, the question is then proposed to her wali (male relative legally responsible for a bride) and this process is called "nakokake".

If this proposal is accepted, the man’s family gives paningset, that is giving of some articles (that have been prepared before) to the woman’s parents or wali as the sign of engagement.