More than 95,000 visit the Istana
By Lyna Mohamad

More than 95,000 people from all walks of life visited the Istana Nurul Iman over the last three days as the open house came to a close yesterday. The last day saw the maximum number of people (37,292) greeting the royalty. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pg Anak Hjh Saleha and other members of the royal family welcomed men and women separately and accepted Hari Raya greetings. The annual tradition adds to the allure of Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in the country. Though Raya is a Muslim festival, the palace gates are open to all irrespective of their religious beliefs. The Istana Open House is as popular among foreigners as it is for locals. It is so well known in the region that people from neighbouring Malaysian towns drive down just to visit the Istana. Photo shows His Majesty, HRH the Crown Prince and HRH Prince Mohamed receiving greetings. - Borneo Bulletin (17th Oct 2007)


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