Bandar Seri Begawan - The Royal Wedding celebrations have now entered into its first week of the two and a half week long series of royal ceremonies with the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja ceremony due to be conducted later this afternoon.
The Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja, or Royal Solemnisation of Marriage Vows ceremony will be held at the most iconic Muslim landmark in the sultanate the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien mosque in the capital.
The event that will be conducted this afternoon, after the afternoon Zohor prayers, will be held before the presence of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, as the father of the royal bride, by the groom-to-be Yang Mulia Pengiran Khairul Khalil bin Pengiran Syed Hj Jaafari.
According to Malay Muslim customs, this ceremony marks the turning point in the series of royal wedding ceremonies, whereby the solemnisation of wedding vows by the groom will effectively formalise the union of his marriage with Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah binti Her Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The nation can expect to see five more ceremonies throughout the next week which will further showcase to first-time local and international observers of the richly-preserved royal customs and traditions, that have stood the test of time and continue to be steadfastly upheld, maintained and carried out as one of the mainstays of the sultanate‘s national policy of Malay, Muslim, Monarchy concept.
Since the commencement of the first royal wedding ceremony in the form of the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja, whereby the groom announced his formal proposal of marriage to the father of the bride, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The ceremony set into motion.
Source: www.bruneitimes.com (7 Juni 2007)
